Ford’s Innovative LMR Battery Seeks to Reduce EV Costs and Enhance Performance | Carscoops

      Ford's newly developed Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR) battery chemistry promises enhancements across various aspects in future electric vehicle (EV) models.

      The LMR battery promises improved energy density and a safety profile akin to lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) cells. It is also designed to be more cost-effective than existing mid-nickel batteries.

      The automaker believes that this technology will help achieve cost parity with conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

      As the electric vehicle market progresses, battery technology is increasingly becoming a pivotal factor for major car manufacturers. Currently, most electric vehicles utilize either lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) or nickel manganese cobalt (NMC or NCM) batteries, while some companies are investigating sodium-ion alternatives.

      Ford is taking the initiative to enhance its EV offerings by introducing a new battery chemistry, Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR), which has been developed at its Battery Center of Excellence in Michigan.

      In a LinkedIn update, Charles Poon, Ford’s director of electrified propulsion engineering, noted that LMR batteries feature a higher energy density compared to traditional high-nickel batteries. According to Poon, this enhancement results in increased range for Ford’s electric vehicles, allowing customers to travel greater distances on a single charge and alleviating the prevalent issue of "range anxiety" experienced by many EV owners.

      The LMR battery is engineered to have a safety profile that is comparable to LFP batteries, and it is expected to be “significantly” less expensive than current mid-nickel batteries. Poon stated that the LMR batteries address the question of “what's next?” as Ford already offers LFP and NCM-powered electric vehicles.

      Ford has indicated that this new battery will contribute to achieving cost parity between electric vehicles and gasoline-powered cars. There is no indication as to whether Ford collaborated with its existing battery partners, such as CATL, LG, or SK On, for the development of the LMR chemistry; Poon attributed the achievement to the efforts of over 135 “world-class chemists, manufacturing engineers, and scientists” within Ford.

      “This isn’t merely a laboratory experiment. We’re actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and incorporate it into our future vehicle lineup within this decade. The team has already begun producing our second-generation LMR cells at our pilot line,” he remarked.

      This new battery development comes despite Ford having slowed down many of its electric vehicle initiatives last year, including canceling plans for a three-row electric SUV and postponing a new electric version of the F-150. Nevertheless, the company is still pursuing an electric mid-sized pickup and a new electric van, among other consumer-oriented EVs.