RE:LFP Batteries and Cold Yeah, that is the gospel we've heard since 2016. Primarily from the Cobalt community.
The reality is LFP is the lower cost, more sustainable battery type and 17% of the global EV market has already transitioned to LFP (BYD, Tesla, Ford, VW, all the big players). Ford is building a 3.5B plant in Michigan using LFP. A key advantage of LFP is the freedom to fully charge the pack to 100 per cent regularly with substantially less degradation and considerably longer cycle life. They are less dense, but can be packed more tightly (less fear of thermal run away). In some cases, this means an LFP-equipped EV actually has similar usable driving range as an NMC or NCA vehicle limited by a 70 to 90 per cent cap. Additionally, there has been massive gains in LFP performance over the last 5 years, with more to come. Then there is cost: LFP can cost $14,500 less on say a Tesla.
There will be a market for cobalt batteries in the higher-end cars, but the reality is since one charges every day at home, it is normally a complete non-issue for 99% of the folks. We are all just waiting on quicker or more ubiquiteous charging... and we are pretty close. We are starting to see fast charging that can do 80% in 15 minutes. Once the majority of Hotels and Apt's and Houses have at least level 2, the actual range with 80% in under 15 minutes is more than one woudl normally drive anyway (they would fly).