配备 LFP 电池组的大众 ID.3 在中国亮相

The new version of the Volkswagen ID.3 electric hatchback was revealed in China with an unusual lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. While this chemistry is common for Chinese EVs, ID.3 and other German ID. models only used more expensive ternary nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC) battery packs.

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ID.3 is under pressure in China. When the car was launched in China in late 2021, the official price was about 25,000 USD. However, due to low sales, massive EV competition, and lack of connectivity and digital experience, Volkswagen had to lower the price drastically. The 2024 annual update started at 108,900 yuan (15,370 USD) at dealers for the 52.8 kWh NMC version with a 450 km CLTC range.

The LFP-powered ID.3 was revealed by a local regulator under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) as Volkswagen applied for homologation of the new ID.3.

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NMC batteries have higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. However, aside from higher prices, there are more downs: NMC uses many precious metals, especially cobalt, whose mining techniques sparked backlash.

LFP has a lower energy density. However, it is cobalt-free and also cheaper. Recently, many EV makers moved to using LFP, including Tesla, who started using LFP batteries even for their German-made Model Y sourced from BYD.

In China, the market leader CATL is a clear winner in the NMC segment. However, in LFP it is far from dominating as it is tightly competing with BYD and its LFP Blade batteries.

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