Reuters recently reported on Tesla’s announcement that it is in advanced talks to use batteries from China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) that contain no cobalt specifically for use in cars made at Tesla’s Shanghai plant. The statement went on to say as a result of using CATL’s lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, Tesla would be able to substantially lower the cost of those cars using the alternative battery technology, as cobalt is the most expensive component in traditional nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries. The statement, however, did not say what the impact of the alternative batteries would be on range. Along with lack of charging infrastructure range is another most widely reported issue buyers worry about with EV’s. CATL’s Li-Fe-P technology is proven and in relatively widespread use, an expert on the industry told MetalMiner in a recent confidential briefing. The battery design is mainly used in larger […]