A new lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material developed by battery material company Integrals Power could increase the real-world range of electric vehicles (EVs) by extending the usable capacity of the battery under high-discharge conditions, the company highlights in a statement.

Conventional lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries experience a reduction in usable capacity when the battery is operated at high-discharge conditions, such as prolonged periods of highway driving or in high-power applications such as electric mining vehicles, the company explains.

Tests conducted by testing and research company QinetiQ have demonstrated that the LMFP cells retain a significantly higher percentage of their nominal capacity than LFP under these conditions, it adds.

The LMFP cells retained 99% of their original capacity at 2C (30 minutes discharge time), and 95% at 5C (12 minutes discharge time).

Even at an extreme 10C (six minutes discharge time) – above the limits of any use case – capacity retention was 60%, Integrals Power points out.  

“This demonstrates the material’s ability to deliver high performance without compromising durability – attributes essential to demanding applications such as EVs,” the company avers.

QinetiQ’s assessments follow other third-party testing last year that showed Integrals Power had managed to incorporate manganese content of 80% and deliver nearly 150 mAh/gr specific capacity, while overcoming the reduction in energy density – and therefore EV range – that usually occurs at such high levels.  

Integrals Power says it has demonstrated that its LMFP material can be used to make cells that will enable battery packs to deliver an optimal balance of high performance, long range and long life that exceeds the capability of LFP, but at a lower cost and less reliance on critical minerals than nickel cobalt manganese batteries.

The company posits that automotive original-equipment manufacturers could use this technology to extend the real-world range of their vehicles, or achieve the same range using fewer cells, thereby enabling lighter, cheaper batteries.

“We’re extremely proud of the test results QinetiQ achieved using our LMFP cathode active materials because they show that we’ve delivered higher C-rate performance and higher retained capacity compromise.

“Together with the proven energy density improvements of up to 20% compared to LFP unlocked by our 80% Manganese content and higher voltage profile of 4.1V, we are able to demonstrate to our customers around the world that we can enable significant cost and weight reductions, and more compact, more sustainable, and longer-lasting battery pack designs,” Integrals Power founder and CEO Behnam Hormozi highlights.

QinetiQ conducted the tests on pouch cells made using the Integrals Power LMFP material and standard commercial-grade graphite anodes and liquid electrolyte. Each cell was tested at an electrode loading of 2mAh/cm².