Integrals Power to supply cathode material for UK project to develop LMFP battery technology

UK battery materials company Integrals Power has been chosen as the cathode active material supplier for a £2-million UK government-funded project to develop lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery technology for defense and electric vehicle applications. The 30-month program is led by battery supplier Denchi Group and funded through the Battery Innovation Programme.

Integrals Power will produce hundreds of kilos of its manganese-rich LMFP cathode material at its multi-tonne facility in Milton Keynes. The material will go into pouch and cylindrical cells, the latter in 21700 and 4695 formats, manufactured on the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre’s new Flexible Pilot Line in Coventry. Denchi will then assemble the cells into battery packs at its Thurso, Scotland plant, including its BB-2590 design, a rugged, waterproof pack built for military communications equipment, sensors and drones. Initial validation trials will replace the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells in BB-2590 packs with the new LMFP cells.

Integrals Power’s LMFP has a manganese content of 80%, which the company says delivers up to 20% greater energy density than conventional lithium iron phosphate (LFP).

“By eliminating reliance on critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel while delivering higher energy density than LFP, LMFP is well suited to the evolving requirements of both defence and automotive applications,” said Behnam Hormozi, Integrals Power’s founder and CEO.

China currently dominates global LFP supply. The International Energy Agency estimates that a halt in battery supply chain exports from China would cost EV plants outside the country about $17 billion a month in lost output. This program uses an end-to-end battery supply chain based in the UK and Europe, and Integrals Power regards it as a demonstrator for the sovereign capability needed for defense applications within NATO.

“With more than 20 years’ experience supplying the military with British designed and built battery systems, we have a very clear understanding of what the defence sector needs as electrification becomes a core element of future strategy,” said Andrew Cowie, CEO of Denchi Group. “We look forward to building the first LMFP battery packs and getting them out into the field for validation trials.”

Source: Integrals Power