Mercedes-Benz might use Chinese language battery provider BYD’s Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in future Chinese language-market EVs, in line with a brand new report.

The supply right here is Chinese language publication CBEA, which on Friday reported that Mercedes will begin manufacturing of EVs with BYD batteries in 2025, citing an nameless official of the automaker.

As famous by CarNewsChina, CBEA is an official journal of the China Automotive Battery Analysis Institute (CABRI), a government-funded group that counts Chinese language automakers SAIC, GAC, Dongfeng, and Changan, in addition to battery agency CATL, as shareholders. That appears to be a reliable supply, though not even Mercedes representatives in China would publicly touch upon the report.

BYD Blade battery pack

Mercedes has some historical past with BYD, CarNewsChina notes. The automaker in 2010 launched the Chinese language-market Denza model with BYD as a 50:50 three way partnership. Mercedes largely pulled out of Denza in 2021, holding only a 10% stake, with BYD persevering with to function it as one in every of its personal manufacturers.

BYD revealed the Blade battery in early 2020. It is the most recent of a number of generations of LFP packs from the corporate and claimed to be a major step ahead in security whereas gaining vitality density—regardless that security incidents for LFP packs have been already extraordinarily uncommon.

This might be the primary use of LFP chemistry in a manufacturing Mercedes. LFP batteries usually aren’t used a lot outdoors the Chinese language market, however that is been altering, with Ford and Tesla now promoting some LFP-equipped EVs within the U.S. BYD already has a provide settlement with Tesla for Europe.

Mercedes-Benz Idea CLA-Class

Mercedes this weekend confirmed the Idea CLA-Class, previewing the primary compact EV primarily based on the automaker’s new MMA platform. The manufacturing model will arrive in the identical timeframe that the report claims Mercedes will start utilizing BYD batteries. Battery chemistry wasn’t mentioned on the unveiling, however Mercedes stated MMA automobiles will use a comparatively small pack and depend on higher effectivity to realize ample vary.

In an effort to simplify Mercedes has even thought-about air-cooling for EV batteries. It was all a part of the push for effectivity and escaping the burden spiral in its Imaginative and prescient EQXX idea for the platform itself.