Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, believes we could be on the cusp of a breakthrough that will radically change the EV industry. This inflection point is all thanks to the LMFP battery, a revolutionary technology that promises affordable EVs with extended range, fast charging, and lower costs.
Musk’s interest in manganese-based cathodes was first unveiled during Tesla’s Battery Day event in 2020 and reiterated during the Giga Berlin factory opening in 2022. Concerned about the complexities of graphene-based batteries, Musk advocated for alternative materials like manganese to enhance battery efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
The prevailing lithium-ion batteries heavily rely on cobalt, an expensive and politically sensitive material. In response, researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory are working on a manganese-centered technology. With manganese being abundantly available, this initiative aims to develop sustainable and cost-effective energy storage solutions not only for EVs but also for other sectors like the electric grid, where battery storage plays a crucial role.
