Latest news with #CharlesPoon
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford engineer announces 'unprecedented' tech that could slash the prices of electric vehicles: 'This isn't just a lab experiment'
A next-generation battery has arrived from Romulus — the city in Michigan. While there's no need to assemble an away team, Ford's headline-making breakthrough, reported on by InsideEVs, could warp already strong electric vehicle adoption to another level. In fact, lead EV engineer Charles Poon wrote on LinkedIn that the unique chemistry being used should produce cheaper rides that can travel longer distances within the decade. The news was also covered by USA Today. "This isn't just a lab experiment," Poon wrote on LinkedIn. The innovation is a lithium manganese rich, or LMR, battery cell now in its second generation. It is being developed in Ford's battery research headquarters. The pack offers better safety and can store more energy per pound, according to Poon and the reports. Poon also added that the company is anticipating "unprecedented" cost reduction. "Our goal is clear: to achieve cost parity with gasoline vehicles and deliver affordable customer solutions tailored to their needs," the expert wrote. But in-depth pack details are scarce, leaving "some experts underwhelmed," per the USA Today. For its part, LMR cathode chemistry has been around for decades. The first Chevy Volt even included a lithium manganese design, all according to the newspaper and an article posted by ScienceDirect. But performance issues at high current densities have prevented the kind Ford is using from being commercialized more widely. Now the engineers seem to have jumped the hurdles. When batteries operate, ions move between the anode and cathode through the electrolyte, a crucial middle layer. Scientists for major automakers and in labs elsewhere are trying to lower the cost and environmental impact of the materials that form the components. Manganese is being researched in China, with interesting results billed as "next-generation," as well. Part of the benefit is eliminating costly cobalt and nickel, according to USA Today. While the lack of a complete schematic breakdown from Ford is causing some skepticism, the automaker's achievements to date provide proof of its electric potential. The Mustang Mach E last year set a range record in England at 569.64 miles. The company has also been busy at the patent office, filing paperwork for a realistic EV stick shift, among other unique ideas. If successful, Ford could blow open the doors on an already-growing EV market. Stateside sales hit nearly 300,000 in the first quarter of 2025, an 11.4% year-over-year jump, per Cox Automotive. Each EV that replaces a gas guzzler nixes thousands of pounds of heat-trapping air pollution, which spews looming gases that increase risks for lung, heart, and other health problems, all according to government reports. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Tax breaks are still available to incentivize the switch, saving you up to $7,500. That's in addition to an estimated $1,500 you can bank in gas and maintenance costs. If you add a rooftop solar system to the mix as part of an overall cleaner strategy, you can secure more tax credits and leverage abundant sun energy to charge your cleaner ride — all without necessarily tapping the grid. EnergySage is a free, online tool to help you navigate the solar market. The experts there can even help you find an installer. Ford is still paying to install at-home charging stations for qualifying customers who buy or lease an EV, as well. While it's all encouraging, the company had mixed EV news last year when it announced it was shifting an Ontario plant from EV production to combustion-engine truck assembly. The decision counterbalanced some of the bigger electric milestones. Poon indicated on LinkedIn that the EV commitment remains strong. "We've fostered a culture of relentless innovation, where challenging convention and pushing the boundaries of what's possible is part of our every day," the engineer wrote. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
This Groundbreaking Battery Tech Is Coming In 2026, But What Is It?
If you think Detroit automakers are laggards in offering electric vehicles (EVs), guess again. General Motors is currently leading the pack, offering the Cadillac Celestiq, Cadillac Escalade IQ, Cadillac Lyriq, Cadillac Lyriq-V, Cadillac Optiq, Cadillac Vistiq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV Pickup, GMC Hummer EV SUV, and GMC Sierra EV, all of which are fueled by electrons, not petroleum. General Motors and LG Energy Solution are developing lithium manganese-rich prismatic battery cells, or LMRs, for use in future GM vehicles. GM plans to be the first automaker to use LMR batteries in its EVs beginning in 2028. The breakthrough battery chemistry will allow for electric vehicle (EV) batteries that are 30% more energy dense than current ones, yet cost the same as the lithium iron phosphate batteries, or LFPs, currently in use. "We're excited to introduce the first-ever LMR prismatic cells for EVs, the culmination of our decades-long research and investment in the technology," said Wonjoon Suh, executive vice-president and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution. "GM's future trucks powered by this new chemistry are a strong example of our shared commitment." The announcement follows a similar one made by Charles Poon, Director of Electrified Propulsion Engineering at Ford, on April 23rd. "This isn't just a lab experiment. We're actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade." Poon cited the LMR batteries' lower production cost, higher energy density, enhanced stability and safety as key factors in their superiority. Ford started their EV offerings with nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries, later adding lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries in 2023. To understand how these batteries differ from those currently in use, you must understand how a battery works. Simply put, electricity is produced in a battery from a reaction between the anode, which creates electrons, and a reaction in the cathode, which absorbs them. Electrolytes allow the electric charge to flow between the cathode and the anode. The net product is electricity. GM's Ultium platform currently employs nickel manganese cobalt aluminum oxide batteries, also known as NCM, which uses 85% nickel, 5% cobalt, and 10% manganese for its cathode coating. However, cobalt and nickel are expensive, and cobalt is known to be mined with child labor, which is a human rights concern. Another widely used battery chemistry is lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, which costs about 20% less than an NCM battery, but China has a near monopoly in LFP cell manufacturing, according to S&P Global. In contrast, LMR batteries use roughly 35% nickel, 65% manganese, and virtually no cobalt. Given that it's the fifth most common element on Earth and widely available, manganese is far less expensive than nickel and cobalt. LMR batteries cost roughly the same to produce as LFP batteries, while being 33% more energy dense. GM plans to produce rectangular prismatic cells rather than the pouch cells currently being used, enhancing the packaging efficiency and reducing the number of components by as much as 75%. Additionally, LMR chemistry works well with bigger cell sizes, which lowers system costs even more. While the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck with Max Range has an EPA-rated range of 492 miles, it uses an NCM battery. Using an LMR battery would allow GM to deliver similar range and lower the price, which now starts at $57,095 and tops out at $97,895. While GM began researching manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells in 2015, performance and durability haven't been up to par. Historically, they've suffered from a short lifespan, losing voltage in a short period of time, but GM and LG Energy Solution state that they have overcome such obstacles by "adding proprietary dopants and coatings, along with particle engineering, process innovations, to achieve the right energy density and arrangement of battery materials inside the cell to keep them stable," according to a GM press release. The research and development at GM's Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center in Warren, Michigan, has led to the corporate partners holding more than 200 patents around the world on LMR-related technology. Ultimately, GM sees the technology providing more range at a lower cost, which should help bring down the cost of EVs, a sticking point in their journey towards being more widely accepted. According to Cox Automotive, the average price paid for a new car in March 2025 was $47,462. By comparison, the average price paid for an electric car was $59,205 – a 22% price premium and the highest in a couple of years. Such price realities are driving the research to reduce battery costs, while tariffs are pushing automakers to rely less on China for their minerals and components. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Top Gear
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Ford: safer, denser and cheaper lithium-manganese batteries coming by 2030
Ford: safer, denser and cheaper lithium-manganese batteries coming by 2030 Ford's battery engineering team has developed a "game-changing" chemistry in-house Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. Be still thine beating hearts, for we have very exciting news about battery chemistry: a lead engineer working for Ford has said its upcoming lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) battery will be safer, more energy-dense and cost less than current tech. And be in cars by 2030. Ford's electrified propulsion engineering chief Charles Poon said on LinkedIn: "This isn't just a lab experiment. We're actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade." Advertisement - Page continues below These "game-changing" LMR batteries will be safer because they're more manganese-rich. Manganese has been in cars since the Chevy Volt – it's cheap (yay!), easily available and chemically more stable than other elements. The LMR batteries are also said to have the energy-density of high-nickel batteries (whoop!), and the price point and scalability of mid-nickel batteries. Party on. Safety, max energy and lower cost is the holy trinity of desired attributes, and generally, LMR batteries have the potential to offer as much as 20 per cent more energy density. Other carmakers have been working with this chemistry, too. Still, Poon confirms that the team – in-house at Ford's Ion Park in Michigan – is 'already producing our second-gen LMR at our pilot line". Five pence says we'll see a new LMR-based Ford Probe SUV in the next decade... Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
