Korean battery makers lag in LFP batteries mass production

LFP penetration into EV battery market. [Graphics by Song Ji-yoon]

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries will account for over 40 percent of the EV battery market in 2024, with projections indicating a potential increase to nearly 50 percent by 2026. The growing dominance of LFP batteries is notably attributed to major automakers increasingly adopting these batteries due to their advantages in both cost and safety. But there are increasing concerns about Korean battery makers’ slow production schedules compared to those of their Chinese rivals.

According to research from Yuanta Securities Research Center released on Sunday, the global penetration rate of LFP batteries in EV battery products is expected to hit 47 percent by 2026. The market share of LFP batteries in the EV market was 17 percent in 2020, which grew to 37 percent in 2023 and is projected to further expand to 41 percent in 2024.

The surge in LFP battery adoption is driven by leading automakers such as Ford, Volvo, and Volkswagen, who have announced plans to expand the use of LFP batteries in their models in 2024. A sizable number of global automakers, including GM, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Rivian, are planning to incorporate LFP batteries into their EV lineups the year after.

While LFP batteries have lower energy density and shorter range per charge compared to ternary lithium-ion batteries, their affordability and high safety standards add to their appeal.

Chinese battery manufacturers have been particularly successful in growing their market share with LFP products. More than 95 percent of global LFP batteries are produced in China as of 2022, with CATL and BYD accounting for over 80 percent of LFP batteries in EVs, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Chinese companies are also addressing the drawbacks of LFP batteries, notably the lower energy density, by developing products like lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) batteries. These batteries boast 20 to 30 percent higher energy density than traditional LFP batteries. CATL, for example, launched the M3P battery, incorporating cathode additives into LMFP, claiming a range of about 700 kilometers on a single charge, and BYD is set to release a mixed-layered structure product combining LMFP and ternary nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries in the second quarter of 2024.

In the Energy Storage Systems (ESS) field, where safety is prioritized over volume and weight, Chinese companies that primarily produce LFP batteries are gaining market share. But Korean companies, who traditionally focus on ternary lithium-ion battery development and production, are finding it hard to keep up with the LFP trend. LG Energy Solution led the Korean market by launching LFP-based residential ESS in the second half of 2023, and the company aims to start mass production of LFP batteries for EVs by the second half of 2025.

Samsung SDI, which is concentrating on solid-state battery development, is targeting the production of ESS-grade LFP batteries by 2026. Recognizing a late entry into the low-cost EV market with LFP batteries, Samsung SDI is preparing to enter the LMFP and cobalt-free (NMX) battery markets.

SK On has engaged in discussions with clients regarding LFP battery supply but is yet to disclose specific production plans. The company was the first Korean battery manufacturer to unveil an EV LFP battery prototype in March 2023.