Apple Partners With BYD From China For Car Project Battery

Illustration of electric car batteries that will be developed by Apple and BYD (photo: x @IntEngineering)

JAKARTA - On October 16, 2024, it was reported that Apple had collaborated with China's automotive manufacturer, BYD, to develop batteries for an electric car project called the Apple Car. Although the project was eventually canceled before its launch, the latest information revealed details about the collaborations carried out by the two companies.

According to Bloomberg reports, Apple and BYD reached an agreement in 2017 to build batteries using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. This technology is designed to increase the range of cars and is safer than conventional electric vehicle batteries. Although BYD produces its own electric vehicle, the batteries built with Apple are designed exclusively for the Apple Car.

Apple selected engineers who are experts in advanced battery packages and heat management to work on the project, while BYD contributes to manufacturing expertise and innovation in the use of LFP batteries. One of the important points of this collaboration is the development of BYD's "Blade" batteries, which are considered very secure and highly capacityed by Apple executives.

However, despite working with BYD for several years, Apple has reportedly withdrawn from the partnership and is starting to consider systems from other companies.

The Apple Car project first emerged in 2014, and Apple had discussions with various automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and even Tesla. However, due to various challenges in building a fully autonomous car, the project was eventually canceled. The project reportedly costs more than US$1 billion (Rp15.5 trillion) per year, with the initial plan to sell the car for US$120,000 (Rp1.8 billion).