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Battery of the future: what really comes and if there's a point to waiting

Part of the Guide Electro-mobile batteriesAre you choosing a car? The battery chemistry of specific models can be found in catalogue of electric cars.

"I'll wait until they're solid-state." We've been hearing this for years - in the meantime, LFP has been cheaper three times. What is the real state of the technology that drives into cars?

LMFP - the evolution that is already going

LFP with manganese addition: o ~ 15-20 % higher energy density while maintaining LFP benefits (tolerance 100 %, lifetime, price). It is gradually put into series cars - from the point of view of the buyer it is "better LFP" and the same rules of care apply to it.

Sodium (Naion) - cheap and hardy

Without lithium, excellent behaviour in the freezing, but lower energy density - the first deployment are urban mini-cars and stationary storage. For cheap second car to the city they make a great deal of sense; for the highway travel car not yet.

Solid- state - still "in a few years"

Semi-solid articles already run in pilot series in China, full-fledged solid state reports manufacturers at the end of the decade. Promising higher density, faster charging and better safety - but first generation will be expensive and reserved premium. Waiting for them with a purchase means always waiting for the next announcement.

Practical conclusion

Buy according to today's needs: commuting and city = LFP today, motorways = NMC today. Technology is improving smoothly, no jump "iPhone moment" expect - and a used car with good SoH holds value better than it is trailing. Check the chemistry of a particular model in Catalogue.