Many Talks, This Is The LFP Battery Weakness

Electric Battery (Photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA - The discussion regarding the comparison of Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) and nickel-based batteries continues. This follows the statement by the former Minister of Investment and Co-Captain of the AMIN National Team, Thomas Lembong, who said Tesla production in Shanghai had 100 percent used LFP-based batteries.

Deputy for Investment and Mining Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Septian Hario Seto, emphasized that the statement was wrong. This is because Tesla's electric demand with a long range perfomrance model still uses batteries from nickel.

"I think the statemnet was not correct. It's not true to mention that. What Mr. Gibran said in the debate was true," said Seto in the Mining Zone quoted on Thursday, January 25.

Seto continued, vehicles that use batteries from the LFP are usually vehicles at entry level or cars at relatively low prices such as the Tesla model 3. He explained this is because the LFP price is relatively cheap and easy to get compared to the battery made from nickel.

"Why because the price is cheaper," added Seto.

On the other hand, Seto also explained the weakness that LFP has, which tends to be resistant if it is relatively low in temperature. "If we look at LFP, the weakness is that in low temperature the performance drops quite significantly," continued Seto.

Based on stories from acquaintances in Korea, Seto said Tesla users tend to be reluctant to take their vehicles to snowy resort skis because at certain temperatures the vehicles carrying cannot be used.

"In Korea, people who buy electric cars made from LFP don't dare to go to the sky resort. Why? Below certain temperatures, the battery turns off and what might be to worry too is when under certain conditions the performance can go down," explained Seto.

Seto said, if taken to the right with cold temperatures, the performance of electric vehicles made by Tesla could drop by 60 percent.

"Like before, the specifications can be 500 km, when in the winter temperature it's only 60 percent, so it's only 300 KM, so that's also a weakness for LFP. Yes, apart from those at certain temperatures, the batteries can turn off," concluded Seto.