- NMC nickel manganese cobalt: Features high energy density but at a cost more suited to large vehicles. Cobalt comes mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the conditions for extracting the metal pose strategic and ethical issues and
- LFP lithium iron phosphate:
- Pros: Eliminates the need for cobalt, more affordable technology suitable for smaller vehicles
- Cons: Lower energy density than NMC
- Pros: Eliminates the need for lithium, nickel or cobalt, metals that are currently highly sought after, replaced by aluminium, iron and manganese. Since sodium is much more abundant than lithium, extraction and supply are easier and less expensive. Non-flammable, can withstand up to 50 000 recharge cycles, five to 10 times more than lithium-ion.
- Cons: Lower energy density, almost non-existent supply of this type of batteries currently, interest linked to the price of lithium.
- Pros: Eliminates the need for cobalt. Renault argues that this technology, which it expects to deliver by 2028, combines the energy density of NMC, the cost and safety of LFP, and recharge times of less than 15 minutes
- Cons: Still in development
- Pros: Stellantis-backed US start-up Lyten, which bought most of the assets of bankrupt Swedish battery maker Northvolt, claims that this technology has more than twice the energy density of lithium-ion. It also eliminates the need for nickel, cobalt and manganese and ensures greater independence since some of the raw materials can be produced locally, in North America and Europe
- Cons: No deployment before 2028
- What: A solid electrolyte polymer, ceramic replaces the liquid electrolyte of lithium-ion technology
- Pros: Higher energy density, lighter, non-flammable
- Cons: Still under development, no large-scale production yet. Gilles Guillaume, additional reporting by Nick Carey, translated by Alessandro Parodi and Marie Mannes, c 2025 Reuters
Sources: futura-sciences.com, Plastec, Saft TotalEnergies, Renault, Arkema, other companies
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