A Chinese giant could supply the batteries for future small electric Mercedes

According to several Chinese media, Mercedes will use batteries manufactured by BYD for its next generation of electric cars which will begin with the new electric CLA planned for next year. The car, presented a few days ago at the Munich Motor Show in the form of a concept, will also be equipped with LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) batteries.

Mercedes reportedly plans to use this type of battery for the “base” electric CLA, but has not yet made its supplier official.

A key model for Mercedes

This rumor, if confirmed, could move BYD from third to second place in the ranking of battery suppliers for electric cars. Currently, the first step of the podium is occupied by CATL, the second by LG Energy Solution and the third by BYD.

The new CLA will be the first in a new family of compact electric cars from Mercedes. It will be based on the MMA platform, a platform with an 800 volt architecture and which was first designed as a platform for electric cars, even if it is a multi-energy structure, that is to say that it will also be able to accommodate hybrid and thermal engines.

A battery adopted by other manufacturers

Coming back to batteries, BYD should supply Mercedes with its Blade battery with LFP chemistry. This is one of the most exciting lithium-iron-phosphate batteries currently available on the market.

It has cell-to-pack technology with very elongated cells (hence the name “blade”, which means “blade” in English). This battery does not need a module, which makes it possible to obtain an energy density generally higher than the average.

This battery is used in a number of electric cars that BYD produces, but also sells to other manufacturers. Among the cars that are equipped with the “Blade battery”, we find Tesla, on the entry-level models of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, but also on the Toyota bZ3, and the future SUV Be EV5.

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