Chinese electric vehicle OEM BYD presented its latest Blade Battery cells at an online event during which Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu explains how the battery addresses 2 issues: density and safety.

Density

BYD’s lithium iron phosphate battery is designed in such a way, that they take less space in battery packs. Typically, only 40% of the battery pack contains actual battery cells, whereas BYD’s design allows to increase the battery surface to 60% of the pack, allowing for more EV autonomy.

Safety

During the presentation, BYD demonstrated the results of a nail penetration test, simulating a car accident with battery damage. The OEM claims that, when punctured, its batteries don’t emit smoke nor fire and stay below 60°C.

First implementation

The Blade battery will be used in the BYD Han, a handsome 4-door sedan said to launch in June 2020. The Han will have a range of 605 km NEDC (probably less in reality) and do a 0-100 km/h in just under 4 seconds.

Picture Credit: BYD Newsroom