What To Know About Charging To 100%

• Sure variations of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Mannequin Y and Tesla Mannequin 3 carry lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.
• These are supposed to be extra inexpensive, longer-lasting batteries that additionally carry some vary and charging tradeoffs.
• However additionally they have totally different charging wants than the extra widespread nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries on different EVs. Here is what it’s best to know.

Once I not too long ago hung out in a 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-EI observed an attention-grabbing message on the central display once I went to cost the automobile. “Cost to 100% not less than as soon as a month to keep up battery well being.” In all my years of testing numerous electrical autos, I do not suppose I would ever seen an alert like that earlier than—however then I additionally remembered what sort of battery was on this Mach-E.

The smaller 73-kilowatt-hour battery in my Mach-E Choose tester is a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery. And which means it should have totally different wants, and behave a little bit in another way, from the nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries present in most trendy EVs.

Photograph by: Patrick George

Till now, I hadn’t actually spent a lot time with LFP batteries. However my expertise with the Mach-E despatched me down a little bit of a rabbit gap, and I realized a number of issues that EV homeowners ought to in all probability know too in the event that they personal one in all these vehicles. Let’s dig into what makes them particular—and the right way to dwell with one.

What Is An LFP Battery?

An LFP battery is simply one other form of lithium-ion battery, albeit one with totally different chemistry than most EVs you should buy within the U.S. and different markets. As a substitute of utilizing nickel, cobalt, or manganese within the cathode—the negatively charged electrode by which electrons enter {an electrical} gadget—LFP makes use of iron phosphate.

For those who do not perceive the nuances of battery chemistry, don’t fret an excessive amount of. (I additionally want I had paid extra consideration in my high-school science courses.) What it’s best to perceive is what these batteries are and do, and the way they function.

LFP batteries are attention-grabbing as a result of they value about 20% much less to supply than different kinds of batteries. At a time when batteries are nonetheless the one costliest a part of any EV, that is an enormous profit to automakers attempting to get electrical vehicles to scale up shortly. It additionally signifies that vehicles with LFP batteries are typically cheaper than their NMC counterparts. And with none nickel or cobalt, their supplies do not should be controversially sourced from locations just like the Congo.

You may consider LFP batteries because the four-cylinder engines of the EV world—they’re low-cost, robust little workhorses which are good at getting the job executed. Their extra secure chemistry means they are typically much less of a hearth threat than different batteries (although that’s statistically low typically, too.) They are typically longer-lasting and extra sturdy than different varieties.

The draw back is that LFP batteries have a tendency to hold much less power density—about 30% much less total, based on battery well being firm Recurrentand which means much less vary than different chemistry varieties. In addition they do not carry out as nicely in very chilly temperatures.

But even with their supplies, LFP batteries aren’t totally freed from geopolitical challenges. Whereas LFP batteries have been invented in AmericaChina’s automakers and battery firms have taken this expertise and run with it, so that they completely dominate the LFP battery provide chain. That is why Ford has to license the tech from Chinese language battery large CATL for its Michigan LFP battery manufacturing facility, one thing that has confirmed controversial in that state and in Washington. (Moreover, China’s automakers at the moment are going above and past with LFP expertise—BYD’s five-minute fast-charging EV makes use of an LFP batteryfor instance.)

What U.S. EVs Carry LFP Batteries?

In China, most EVs overwhelmingly use LFP batteries. They’re much less widespread within the U.S. market, though that’s altering shortly as an increasing number of automakers notice their advantages and determine the right way to make them.

Photograph by: Patrick George

EVs with LFP batteries embrace the Mustang Mach-E in Choose and Premium trims with the smaller Customary Vary battery with as much as 260 miles of vary (the Prolonged Vary battery is an NMC unit); the upcoming 2027 Chevrolet Bolt; ultimately, a model of the Chevrolet Silverado EV; the Rivian R1S SUV and R1T truck, on the entry-level dual-motor Customary variant; and many Customary Vary trims of the Tesla Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Yparticularly ones with rear-wheel-drive. Ford’s new Common EV Platform autos, beginning with a $30,000 pickup truck, may also use LFP batteries.

Did you choose up on the theme right here? All of those LFP batteries are discovered on the extra inexpensive trim ranges, and those with much less total vary. The next-range battery (not less than exterior of China) will in all probability be NMC. However they bring about super cost-savings to the desk and may get extra individuals into electrical driving for much less cash. Hyundai and Volkswagen are additionally engaged on LFP batteries for brand spanking new fashions.

Tesla Mannequin 3 LFP Battery (supply: Munro Dwell)

It is at all times good to know what sort of battery your EV carries. In Ford’s case, if the eighth digit of your Mach-E’s VIN is a 4 or a 5it has an LFP battery. All others carry NMC items. On a Tesla, it’s best to be capable of inform on the central display’s charging ideas web pageor by checking “Extra Automobile Data” within the software program menus.

What Ought to I Know About Charging an LFP Battery to 100%?

Typically, most EVs ought to be charged to 80% or 90% usually to keep up their total battery well being. I hold my Kia EV6, which has an NMC battery, at 80% practically the entire time except I’m going on an extended drive.

LFP batteries work a bit in another way. A number of automakers say it’s finest to cost your car’s LFP battery to 100% periodically, not less than as soon as per week within the case of Tesla or as soon as a month as per Ford. That is for the battery administration system (BMS): the pc {hardware} that screens battery efficiency, security, and lifespan by overseeing issues like voltage, present, temperature and different components. By charging an LFP battery to 100% periodically, it helps to make sure the BMS is correctly calibrated.

“Set the utmost cost stage to 100% and cost to 100% not less than as soon as per 30 days to keep up vary accuracy,” is what Ford recommends. “Throughout common use, you may enhance the battery life by sustaining the state of cost at 100%.”

Tesla has traditionally instructed LFP battery homeowners to “hold your cost restrict set to 100%, even for each day use, and that you simply additionally absolutely cost to 100% not less than as soon as per week.” The newest model of Tesla’s on-line consumer guide primarily defers to what’s displayed on the central touchscreenas steering may change over time with software program updates.

Recurrent’s information signifies that LFP battery EV homeowners are inclined to cost to 90% and 100% rather more than most EV homeowners do—these individuals are inclined to hold their batteries round 80% a lot of the time as an alternative. “LFP batteries maintain up higher to excessive states of cost, that means that usually charging them to 100% might not trigger as a lot degradation as it will with a special battery chemistry,” Recurrent stated final 12 months. On the plus aspect, this may permit an EV proprietor to make use of “extra” of their most vary the entire time with an LFP battery.

Nonetheless, that does not appear to be a uniform opinion nowadays. Final 12 months, a research revealed within the Journal of Electrochemical Society indicated that repeated charging to 100% can hurt LFP battery cells over time. Dangerous compounds can kind that harm the adverse electrode, the research stated, carrying down batteries over time.

However even that research admits that preserving your LFP battery charged to low ranges is basically ineffective, so it is best to be even handed about how typically you go to 100%. And now we have seen many examples of LFP-powered Teslas seeing minimal battery degradation after 100,000 mileseven after they’re ceaselessly charged to full.

In the end, we suggest doing what your consumer’s guide or the EV itself tells you to do. When you’ve got an LFP-powered EV, you will not be as beholden to the 80% rule as different drivers are. And even when you aren’t excited about changing into a chemistry professional simply to drive a automobile, it is good to know what sort of batteries your EV carries, and the way finest to look after them so that they final a really very long time.

Contact the creator: patrick.george@insideevs.com