LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
A lithium-ion cathode chemistry (LiFePO4) prized for safety, long cycle life and low cost, at the expense of lower energy density than nickel-based cells.
LFP cells use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) as the cathode. The olivine crystal structure binds oxygen strongly, so the cathode does not release oxygen when overheated; thermal runaway onset is typically above 250 °C, compared with roughly 150–210 °C for high-nickel cells. LFP contains no nickel or cobalt, which lowers cost and supply-chain risk.
Cell energy density: about 160–205 Wh/kg, 350–450 Wh/L
Cycle life: about 4,000–8,000 cycles to 80% capacity at moderate C-rates
The flat voltage curve between roughly 10% and 90% state of charge is convenient for inverters but makes SoC estimation harder, so battery management systems rely on coulomb counting with periodic full-charge recalibration. Cold-temperature charging performance is weaker than NMC.
LFP has become the default chemistry for stationary storage and home batteries, and by 2024 accounted for roughly half of new EV batteries globally (IEA Global EV Outlook), driven largely by Chinese manufacturers and cell-to-pack designs that offset the lower cell energy density. Its long cycle life makes it well suited to daily solar shifting.
Related terms
All terms →- Lithium-ion battery
A rechargeable battery in which lithium ions shuttle between a graphite anode and a metal-oxide or phosphate cathode; the dominant chemistry for EVs and grid storage.
- NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt)
A family of lithium-ion cathodes (LiNixMnyCozO2) offering high energy density, widely used in long-range electric vehicles.
- Cycle life
The number of full charge-discharge cycles a battery can deliver before its capacity falls to a defined end-of-life threshold, usually 70–80% of rated capacity.
- BESS (Battery Energy Storage System)
A complete grid- or site-connected battery installation, including cells, battery management, power conversion, thermal management and controls.
- Energy density
The amount of energy stored per unit mass (specific energy, Wh/kg or MJ/kg) or per unit volume (Wh/L or MJ/L) of a fuel or storage medium.
- Sodium-ion battery
A rechargeable battery analogous to lithium-ion but using abundant sodium ions, trading energy density for lower material cost and better cold performance.