Hyundai Motor Group is highly likely to launch an electric vehicle this year that uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries made by CATL, TheElec has learned.
CATL’s LFP battery was being prioritized over batteries of other vendors for use in the Gen 2 Kia Ray EV that will launch this year, sources said.
If approved, CATL’s cell to pack technology, which puts cells directly into packs without modules, will also be used, they said.
It will be the first instance that Hyundai Motor Group launch an EV that uses LFP batteries.
It has only used nickel-based batteries in the past, which CATL also supplies to the Korean automaker.
Hyundai Mobis, the parts-making business unit of the automaker, has been collaborating with CATL in cell to pack technology since 2021.
Removing modules allows more cells to be packed in, increasing the travel distance of EVs.
Gen 2 Kia Ray EV uses American automotive supplier BorgWarner’s A segment iDM instead of Hyundai’s E-GMP platform. It runs on a 400V system, lower than E-GMP’s 800V.
Hyundai is planning to use the iDM for all its light vehicles going forward, which will give CATL more opportunities to supply its LFP batteries.
