Battery expected in August
FinDreams, BYD's battery subsidiary, will release the second-generation Blade battery later this year, possibly in August. One of the key upgrades of the new battery will be the energy density, which is expected to reach 190 Wh/kg.
The original Blade battery, introduced in 2020, revolutionized the electric vehicle industry by making lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries cheaper, the density of which made them competitive with nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries. The new cell arrangement increased space utilization by 50% compared to existing LFP batteries at the time. At the time of its introduction, the first generation Blade battery had an energy density of 140 Wh/kg, which has since been increased to 150 Wh/kg.
BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu spoke about the development of a new battery during a recent conference. Wang Chuanfu said that the second generation Blade battery will be smaller and lighter with the same durability, and power consumption will be reduced.
Fast Technology suggests that the new battery will help all-electric models cover a distance of 1000 kilometers. This range will make cars equipped with them competitive with the solid-state batteries advertised by IM Motors and the semi-solid-state batteries currently being produced for Nio.
BYD claims that one of the key advantages of the second generation Blade batteries is that they are much safer.