In a bid to revolutionize battery technology, Apple, alongside the Chinese automaker BYD, has been working on advanced developments initially intended for the now-abandoned Apple Car project. This collaboration focused on creating Lithium-Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells with enhanced capacity and safety features.

A Partnership Born in 2017

The alliance between Apple and BYD began in 2017. BYD, headquartered in Shenzhen, currently leverages its own Lithium-Iron Phosphate batteries, known as Blade batteries. However, the bespoke batteries conceived for Apple's vehicle are described as being highly tailored to suit specific requirements. Each partner brought their respective expertise: Apple added value in battery packaging and heat management, while BYD contributed its deep knowledge of LFP chemistry.

Innovative Safety and Energy Density Features

The ambitious project aimed to blend Apple's technological prowess with BYD's battery advancements to create a safe and long-range electric vehicle. The collaboration bore significant financial investment and saw Apple's managers, including notable figures such as Alexander Hitzinger, a former VW and Porsche manager, overseeing the battery design. Early prototypes impressed Apple due to their superior safety and energy density characteristics.

The End of the Apple Car, But Not Its Technology

Despite years of collaboration and the involvement of many experts, Apple opted to conclude its partnership with BYD in pursuit of alternative suppliers before ultimately discontinuing the Apple Car project in spring 2024. Nonetheless, the innovative battery technologies developed during this venture have not gone entirely to waste, as aspects of these advancements have found their way into other Apple initiatives, like the Apple Watch and ARM SoCs.

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