Apple looking at a unique ‘monocell’ battery design for its car project

There is no doubt Apple is moving forward with self-driving car technology to produce a passenger car by 2024.

But central to the strategy is a new battery design. Reuters says the car reportedly will be powered by breakthrough ‘monocell’ battery technology that could radically reduce cost.

The battery will also increase the vehicle’s range before it needs a recharge.

Apple will have a manufacturing partner to build the Apple-branded vehicles, and it will focus on an autonomous-driving system.

But the focus is on the new battery design, says Reuters.

Apple plans to use a unique ‘monocell’ design that bulks up the individual cells in the battery and frees up space inside the battery pack by eliminating pouches and modules that hold battery materials.

This means they can pack more active materials inside the battery in order to give the car a potentially longer range.

Apple is also examining a chemistry for the battery called LFP, or lithium iron phosphate. This is less likely to overheat and is thus safer than other types of lithium-ion batteries.

‘It’s next level,’ a person who has seen the design said of Apple’s battery technology. ‘Like the first time, you saw the iPhone.’