The joint effort sought to create a safe, long-range battery system for Apple’s vehicle.
Apple collaborated with Chinese carmaker BYD for years on its now-cancelled car project, developing long-range EV batteries that laid the groundwork for current technology, reported Bloomberg.
The partnership began around 2017. It focused on creating a battery using lithium iron phosphate cells, aiming for greater range and safety compared to existing EV batteries, people familiar with the development told the publication.
The Apple BYD EV battery collaboration aimed to combine Apple’s expertise in advanced battery packs and heat management with BYD’s manufacturing knowledge and advancements in lithium iron phosphate cell technology.
Although Apple does not own any technology used in BYD’s current Blade batteries, the partnership’s influence is evident in BYD’s lineup, which now features the Blade system, the report said.
The partnership between Apple and BYD started when Apple was exploring core technologies for its vehicle project. BYD’s Blade battery, known for its safety and energy storage capabilities, caught the attention of Apple executives.
Apple’s goal was to customise the technology to boost the range of its planned EV, the undisclosed sources told Bloomberg.
Apple had invested approximately $1bn a year on its vehicle project, often considered one of the company’s potential breakthroughs.
Despite the project’s cancellation in February, the collaboration with BYD had involved significant investments in battery design and engineering, with the aim of maximising cell capacity within the battery pack.
The collaboration was led by Apple’s Alexander Hitzinger, a former executive at Volkswagen and Porsche, and Mujeeb Ijaz, a former A123 Systems employee.
At BYD, vice-president of the battery business Michael He was the counterpart.
The joint effort sought to create a safe, long-range battery system for Apple’s vehicle.
BYD’s Blade battery has become a key selling point for the company, contributing to its sales of three million electric and hybrid vehicles in 2023.
BYD has surpassed Tesla as the top EV seller globally, with its founder and chairman Wang Chuanfu becoming a billionaire.
Despite the collaboration’s initial promise, Apple distanced itself from the partnership, exploring other battery systems and facing numerous delays in its car project.
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However, the endeavour provided valuable insights for other Apple products, including the Vision Pro headset and the Neural Engine AI processor.
Representatives from both Apple and BYD declined to comment on the battery collaboration.
BYD, however, stated that the Blade battery concept and development were solely the work of BYD engineers, with the company holding all property and patent rights.
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