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Manganese and Fluorspar value chains across Mn ore, HPMSM, acidspar, HF acid, and LiPF₆. Ciara tracks market developments and price movements across these commodities, working on supply and demand forecasts and historical price analysis.","7eca6b4d-8ff7-4599-9aa8-a5fdc2c76da0",{"id":551,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":552,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":554,"is_external_url":50},170465821963610,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/400x400/b61680a01e/ciara-rice.jpg","asset",{},"https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciara-rice-7481b1b9/","author","Battery Chemicals Analyst","Manganese, HPMSM, Acidspar, HF Acid, electrolyte",[],[],[562,848],{"id":563,"uuid":564,"name":565,"slug":566,"full_slug":567,"content":568},188807790200435,"14468223-9e6a-42b3-8457-78715a70c901","Manganese Metal Company begins commissioning South Africa’s first battery-grade manganese sulphate plant","manganese-metal-company-begins-commissioning-south-africa-s-first-battery-grade-manganese-sulphate-plant","article/manganese-metal-company-begins-commissioning-south-africa-s-first-battery-grade-manganese-sulphate-plant",{"_uid":569,"date":570,"tags":571,"editor":581,"content":591,"excerpt":821,"featured":51,"reporter":822,"component":826,"seo_title":827,"categories":828,"visibility":838,"data_vis_image":839,"featured_image":841,"seo_description":846,"formattedDate":847},"c4567665-5f18-4a42-b99e-cd699ffd514f","2026-06-18 00:00",[572,575,578],{"slug":573,"name":574},"manganese-metal-company","Manganese Metal Company",{"slug":576,"name":577},"south-africa","South Africa",{"slug":579,"name":580},"africa","Africa",[582],{"slug":583,"name":584,"content":585},"matthew-bird","Matthew Bird",{"job_title":586,"image":587,"bio":589,"linkedin":590},"Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation",{"filename":588},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/14738033ec/matthew-bird.jpeg","Matthew writes, edits and produces content for Benchmark Intelligence and Benchmark Source across the whole mine to grid supply chain. He also acts as a liaison to the press. He has a PhD in electrochemistry from the University of Nottingham.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/birdmatthew/",{"type":592,"content":593},"doc",[594,637,645,655,665,682,690,698,706,714,722,730,752,788,808],{"type":595,"attrs":596,"content":597},"paragraph",{"textAlign":49},[598,606,618,623,632],{"text":599,"type":600,"marks":601},"Manganese Metal Company (MMC) has commenced commissioning ","text",[602],{"type":603,"attrs":604},"textStyle",{"color":605},"#000000",{"text":607,"type":600,"marks":608},"South Africa’s",[609,616],{"type":610,"attrs":611},"link",{"href":612,"uuid":613,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/south-africa-formally-launches-critical-minerals-strategy","d3f03469-dfec-43f8-8c97-c6f6037e9f6e","_self","story",{"type":603,"attrs":617},{"color":605},{"text":619,"type":600,"marks":620}," first high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) facility at its Mbombela refinery in Mpumalanga. This is a significant step for the country which has long been the world's largest ",[621],{"type":603,"attrs":622},{"color":605},{"text":624,"type":600,"marks":625},"supplier of manganese ore",[626,630],{"type":610,"attrs":627},{"href":628,"uuid":629,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/south-africa-to-remain-top-manganese-producer-with-more-than-one-third-of-supply-in-2024","9a34688a-6273-4ab3-bfc7-6852b4627044",{"type":603,"attrs":631},{"color":605},{"text":633,"type":600,"marks":634},".",[635],{"type":603,"attrs":636},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":638,"content":639},{"textAlign":49},[640],{"text":641,"type":600,"marks":642},"MMC has operated in Mbombela since 1974 and is the world's largest producer of selenium-free electrolytic manganese metal (EMM). It sources ore from the Kalahari Manganese Field in the Northern Cape. The company has added HPMSM production through a brownfield expansion to its existing refinery. MMC is wholly-owned by South African companies.",[643],{"type":603,"attrs":644},{"color":605},{"type":646,"attrs":647},"blok",{"id":648,"body":649},"b99bf16d-3c67-45fe-9fca-f8522d1969ee",[650],{"id":651,"_uid":652,"type":653,"component":654,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"29409894","i-130fc5e6-ce69-4722-9411-669330c5a695","visualisation","ContentFlourish",{"type":656,"attrs":657,"content":659},"heading",{"level":658,"textAlign":49},2,[660],{"text":661,"type":600,"marks":662},"Where does MMC fit into the global HPMSM market?",[663],{"type":603,"attrs":664},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":666,"content":667},{"textAlign":49},[668,677],{"text":669,"type":600,"marks":670},"China accounts for roughly 90% of global HPMSM production",[671,675],{"type":610,"attrs":672},{"href":673,"uuid":674,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/visualising-critical-mineral-refining-by-2030","aa18345f-1698-4ef5-b27c-06a67a847504",{"type":603,"attrs":676},{"color":605},{"text":678,"type":600,"marks":679},", with only four operating facilities elsewhere, in Belgium, Kazakhstan and Japan. Benchmark assesses the combined ex-China nameplate capacity to be just 38,000 tonnes per year in 2026.",[680],{"type":603,"attrs":681},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":683,"content":684},{"textAlign":49},[685],{"text":686,"type":600,"marks":687},"MMC’s new HPMSM facility will add significant tonnage to this. The recently commissioned Phase 1 is targeting 6,000 tonnes per year of HPMSM. A second phase, which would add a further 18,000 tonnes per year at the same site, is under evaluation.",[688],{"type":603,"attrs":689},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":691,"content":692},{"textAlign":49},[693],{"text":694,"type":600,"marks":695},"The HPMSM will be produced using a proprietary metal-to-crystals process which converts a portion of its EMM output into battery-grade sulphate crystals. The sulphate plant runs on 100% renewable hydroelectric energy.",[696],{"type":603,"attrs":697},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":699,"content":700},{"textAlign":49},[701],{"text":702,"type":600,"marks":703},"Qualification volumes at Mbombela are targeted for H2 2026, with commercial sales expected from 2027, after accreditation is completed. MMC ships through the ports of Maputo and Durban, with Europe and North America as the primary target markets, though some of these customers use pCAM partners located in Asia, Madelein Todd, MMC’s market development executive told Benchmark.",[704],{"type":603,"attrs":705},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":707,"content":708},{"textAlign":49},[709],{"text":710,"type":600,"marks":711},"Todd explained that the company’s conversion of the fines and slimes of South African manganese ore into high purity materials enables it to play “a key part in the critical material sourcing strategies of Western value chains.”",[712],{"type":603,"attrs":713},{"color":605},{"type":656,"attrs":715,"content":716},{"level":658,"textAlign":49},[717],{"text":718,"type":600,"marks":719},"Sulphuric acid agreements represent a competitive advantage",[720],{"type":603,"attrs":721},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":723,"content":724},{"textAlign":49},[725],{"text":726,"type":600,"marks":727},"Beyond its dominance in manganese ore, South Africa is Africa's largest sulphuric acid producer, with output generated predominantly as a byproduct of base metals smelting. This adds a structural advantage to companies operating in the country.",[728],{"type":603,"attrs":729},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":731,"content":732},{"textAlign":49},[733,738,747],{"text":734,"type":600,"marks":735},"MMC can use industrial-grade sulphuric acid in both its EMM and HPMSM operations. Having a secure, domestic supply of industrial acid can help the company to mitigate the ",[736],{"type":603,"attrs":737},{"color":605},{"text":739,"type":600,"marks":740},"rising acid prices seen as a result of the conflict in Iran",[741,745],{"type":610,"attrs":742},{"href":743,"uuid":744,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/what-the-sulphuric-acid-supply-crunch-means-for-critical-minerals","89fa6c30-d2f8-47dd-ab8c-c9a7c2cb86f5",{"type":603,"attrs":746},{"color":605},{"text":748,"type":600,"marks":749}," and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.",[750],{"type":603,"attrs":751},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":753,"content":754},{"textAlign":49},[755,760,769,774,783],{"text":756,"type":600,"marks":757},"A significant share of ",[758],{"type":603,"attrs":759},{"color":605},{"text":761,"type":600,"marks":762},"global seaborne sulphur supply is impacted",[763,767],{"type":610,"attrs":764},{"href":765,"uuid":766,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/videos/supply-squeeze-how-sulphuric-acid-constraints-are-shaping-copper-cobalt-nickel-lithium-markets","37efde40-9be1-4804-a9df-822a4244bdd5",{"type":603,"attrs":768},{"color":605},{"text":770,"type":600,"marks":771},", which has driven acid prices up sharply, with ",[772],{"type":603,"attrs":773},{"color":605},{"text":775,"type":600,"marks":776},"China's subsequent export halt",[777,781],{"type":610,"attrs":778},{"href":779,"uuid":780,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/china-to-potentially-ban-sulphuric-acid-exports-as-iran-war-pressures-supply","80b2b4fa-1a1a-4ed8-8906-268000529283",{"type":603,"attrs":782},{"color":605},{"text":784,"type":600,"marks":785}," from May adding further pressure. For producers without long-term supply agreements, and early-stage projects yet to establish them, this represents a material challenge to overcome.",[786],{"type":603,"attrs":787},{"color":605},{"type":595,"attrs":789,"content":790},{"textAlign":49},[791,796,804],{"text":792,"type":600,"marks":793},"As Africa's role in the global battery supply chain continues to accelerate, ",[794],{"type":795},"italic",{"text":797,"type":600,"marks":798},"Benchmark's Giga Africa 2026",[799,803],{"type":610,"attrs":800},{"href":801,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":802},"https://www.benchmarkminerals.com/events/giga-africa","url",{"type":795},{"text":805,"type":600,"marks":806}," event brings together government, industry and finance to forge lasting partnerships, unlock defining deals and gain in-depth market insights. Fill out the form below to find out more:",[807],{"type":795},{"type":646,"attrs":809},{"id":810,"body":811},"c429f038-4ee2-47e6-9010-a190ecc8a4dc",[812],{"id":813,"_uid":814,"component":815,"wrap_in_box":50,"redirect_url":816,"success_file":818,"default_height":547,"success_message":547,"v2_hubspot_form":50,"success_sub_text":547,"hidden_field_values":820,"show_on_intelligence":50},"57a99950-73f5-48be-98a4-7324c28e5d0b","i-a982f561-c3c8-4650-a1a1-df5c258351b9","ContentHubspotForm",{"id":547,"url":547,"linktype":615,"fieldtype":817,"cached_url":547},"multilink",{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":819},{},[],"Manganese Metal Company (MMC) has commenced commissioning South Africa’s first high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) facility at its Mbombela refinery in Mpumalanga. This is a significant step for the country which has long been the world's largest supplier of manganese ore.\n\nMMC has operated in Mbombela since 1974 as the world's largest non-Chinese producer of selenium-free electrolytic manganese metal (EMM). It sources ore from the Kalahari Manganese Field in the Northern Cape. The company has added HPMSM production through a brownfield expansion to its existing refinery. MMC is wholly-owned by South African companies.",[823],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":824},{"job_title":557,"image":825,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},"article","MMC begins commissioning South Africa’s first HPMSM plant",[829,832,835],{"slug":830,"name":831},"manganese","Manganese",{"slug":833,"name":834},"critical-minerals","Critical Minerals",{"slug":836,"name":837},"raw-materials","Raw Materials","private",{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":840},{},{"id":842,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":843,"source":547,"filename":844,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":845,"is_external_url":50},188808182043864,"Image credit: Manganese Metal Company","https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1365x768/733b5bef9a/mmc-plant.JPG",{"alt":547,"title":843,"source":547,"copyright":547},"Manganese Metal Company (MMC) has commenced commissioning South Africa’s first high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) facility at its Mbombela refinery in Mpumalanga.","Jun 18, 2026",{"id":849,"uuid":850,"name":851,"slug":852,"full_slug":853,"content":854},156236618730672,"27a25c0a-b17f-46c1-a750-10f514e8bb13","Is BYD using LMFP for Blade 2.0 and what would this mean for manganese?","is-byd-using-lmfp-for-blade-2-0-and-what-would-this-mean-for-manganese-","article/is-byd-using-lmfp-for-blade-2-0-and-what-would-this-mean-for-manganese-",{"_uid":855,"date":856,"tags":857,"editor":867,"content":871,"excerpt":1188,"featured":51,"reporter":1189,"component":826,"seo_title":1213,"categories":1214,"visibility":838,"data_vis_image":1228,"featured_image":1232,"seo_description":1236,"formattedDate":1237},"f89f68fd-d812-4a3d-af07-be6a32f724bd","2026-03-18 00:00",[858,861,864],{"slug":859,"name":860},"byd","BYD",{"slug":862,"name":863},"data-visualisation","Data Visualisation",{"slug":865,"name":866},"lmfp","LMFP",[868],{"slug":583,"name":584,"content":869},{"job_title":586,"image":870,"bio":589,"linkedin":590},{"filename":588},{"type":592,"content":872},[873,895,931,939,961,968,982,990,996,1004,1012,1024,1032,1054,1062,1070,1078,1090,1098,1111,1119,1127,1135,1143,1151,1157,1166,1171,1176,1181],{"type":595,"attrs":874,"content":875},{"textAlign":49},[876,881,890],{"text":877,"type":600,"marks":878},"BYD may be using lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP) cells for its new ",[879],{"type":603,"attrs":880},{"color":547},{"text":882,"type":600,"marks":883},"Blade 2.0 battery platform",[884,888],{"type":610,"attrs":885},{"href":886,"uuid":887,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/byd-launches-much-anticipated-blade-2-battery","bbd6953f-b16b-4e77-967f-8242cfad5d74",{"type":603,"attrs":889},{"color":547},{"text":891,"type":600,"marks":892},", unveiled earlier in March, though it has yet to officially declare which chemistry will be used. ",[893],{"type":603,"attrs":894},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":896,"content":898},{"textAlign":897},"left",[899,904,912,917,926],{"text":900,"type":600,"marks":901},"A key advantage of the new platform is support for “flash charging” which ",[902],{"type":603,"attrs":903},{"color":547},{"text":860,"type":600,"marks":905},[906,910],{"type":610,"attrs":907},{"href":908,"uuid":909,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/in-charts-the-rise-of-byd","d138a8e7-adba-49a7-b52d-30b972975714",{"type":603,"attrs":911},{"color":547},{"text":913,"type":600,"marks":914}," claims can charge the battery from 10% to 70% in just five minutes when connected to its new 1,500kW ",[915],{"type":603,"attrs":916},{"color":547},{"text":918,"type":600,"marks":919},"charging system",[920,924],{"type":610,"attrs":921},{"href":922,"uuid":923,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/catl-announces-battery-capable-of-1-3-mw-charging-how-fast-will-chargers-get","fa8ae311-e854-4049-92d4-326e1c68b21a",{"type":603,"attrs":925},{"color":547},{"text":927,"type":600,"marks":928},". ",[929],{"type":603,"attrs":930},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":932,"content":933},{"textAlign":897},[934],{"text":935,"type":600,"marks":936},"BYD's references to a 3.8V operating voltage, enhanced energy density as well as LMFP-related patent portfolio all point towards BYD using LMFP in the platform.",[937],{"type":603,"attrs":938},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":940,"content":941},{"textAlign":897},[942,947,956],{"text":943,"type":600,"marks":944},"If BYD does use LMFP for Blade 2.0, Benchmark calculates that this could increase 2026 ",[945],{"type":603,"attrs":946},{"color":547},{"text":948,"type":600,"marks":949},"battery-grade manganese demand",[950,954],{"type":610,"attrs":951},{"href":952,"uuid":953,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/what-role-will-manganese-rich-cathode-chemistries-play-in-the-future-battery-market","302d7379-4edd-4324-8543-57852feaa822",{"type":603,"attrs":955},{"color":547},{"text":957,"type":600,"marks":958}," by 7%.",[959],{"type":603,"attrs":960},{"color":547},{"type":646,"attrs":962},{"id":963,"body":964},"28b0a463-df61-4aad-a703-cac558eab0be",[965],{"id":966,"_uid":967,"type":653,"component":654,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"28104670","i-fb789942-4a0e-40c8-9087-8b1272c60407",{"type":656,"attrs":969,"content":970},{"level":658,"textAlign":897},[971,976],{"text":972,"type":600,"marks":973},"How much demand is there for BYD’s Blade 2.0 platform?",[974],{"type":603,"attrs":975},{"color":547},{"text":977,"type":600,"marks":978}," ",[979],{"type":603,"attrs":980},{"color":981},"#0F4761",{"type":595,"attrs":983,"content":984},{"textAlign":897},[985],{"text":986,"type":600,"marks":987},"At the launch event, BYD showcased several battery electric vehicles (BEV) – predominantly in the premium segment – and one range extended EV (REEV) that will support “flash charging”.",[988],{"type":603,"attrs":989},{"color":547},{"type":646,"attrs":991},{"id":963,"body":992},[993],{"id":994,"_uid":995,"type":653,"component":654,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"28103316","i-b48278a3-d2cf-4a21-a82b-d28dcde4db3a",{"type":595,"attrs":997,"content":998},{"textAlign":897},[999],{"text":1000,"type":600,"marks":1001},"Based on 2025 sales performance, and the expected volumes the new additions could add, Benchmark anticipates the battery demand from these models could total 27.5 GWh through the remainder of 2026.  ",[1002],{"type":603,"attrs":1003},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1005,"content":1006},{"textAlign":897},[1007],{"text":1008,"type":600,"marks":1009},"This estimate could end up lower if BYD offers multiple choices of battery pack for the selected models. Conversely, if consumer reaction is strong enough to boost demand for flash charging, then the GWh figure could see upside too. ",[1010],{"type":603,"attrs":1011},{"color":547},{"type":656,"attrs":1013,"content":1014},{"level":658,"textAlign":897},[1015,1020],{"text":1016,"type":600,"marks":1017},"How would Blade 2.0 using LMFP impact manganese demand?",[1018],{"type":603,"attrs":1019},{"color":547},{"text":977,"type":600,"marks":1021},[1022],{"type":603,"attrs":1023},{"color":981},{"type":595,"attrs":1025,"content":1026},{"textAlign":897},[1027],{"text":1028,"type":600,"marks":1029},"Should BYD confirm LMFP use, this would materially lift the near-term manganese outlook. ",[1030],{"type":603,"attrs":1031},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1033,"content":1034},{"textAlign":897},[1035,1040,1049],{"text":1036,"type":600,"marks":1037},"Under Benchmark’s baseline case, without LMFP deployment in these new Blade systems, LMFP-related ",[1038],{"type":603,"attrs":1039},{"color":547},{"text":1041,"type":600,"marks":1042},"manganese demand",[1043,1047],{"type":610,"attrs":1044},{"href":1045,"uuid":1046,"anchor":49,"target":614,"linktype":615},"/article/high-purity-manganese-sulphate-deficits-set-to-widen-in-2025","97e6f606-7439-4550-bebb-775c7a382ff6",{"type":603,"attrs":1048},{"color":547},{"text":1050,"type":600,"marks":1051}," is estimated at ~4,000t in 2026, or roughly 3% of total battery-grade manganese consumption. With LMFP adoption in the Blade 2.0 platform across BYD’s vehicle portfolio, LMFP-driven manganese demand is projected to rise to ~12,000t in 2026, lifting its share of total manganese demand to about 10%. ",[1052],{"type":603,"attrs":1053},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1055,"content":1056},{"textAlign":897},[1057],{"text":1058,"type":600,"marks":1059},"Further upside to manganese demand could be seen if BYD rolls out LMFP cells in other models or if other OEMs produce rival EV battery platforms based on chemistry. ",[1060],{"type":603,"attrs":1061},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1063,"content":1064},{"textAlign":897},[1065],{"text":1066,"type":600,"marks":1067},"On the processing side, BYD’s LMFP precursor pathway remains unclear. It is not yet known whether the company uses high-purity manganese sulphate, manganese carbonate, high-purity manganese oxides, or a mix of these, nor how much processing is handled in-house versus by third parties. ",[1068],{"type":603,"attrs":1069},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1071,"content":1072},{"textAlign":897},[1073],{"text":1074,"type":600,"marks":1075},"This makes it difficult to pinpoint where in the supply chain the additional manganese demand will surface, even as the overall demand increase from LMFP becomes clearer. Regardless, the size of the LMFP-related manganese increase from BYD alone illustrates how LMFP could begin to shift manganese’s position in the EV battery supply chain. ",[1076],{"type":603,"attrs":1077},{"color":547},{"type":656,"attrs":1079,"content":1080},{"level":658,"textAlign":897},[1081,1086],{"text":1082,"type":600,"marks":1083},"What is suggesting that Blade 2.0 will use LMFP?",[1084],{"type":603,"attrs":1085},{"color":547},{"text":977,"type":600,"marks":1087},[1088],{"type":603,"attrs":1089},{"color":981},{"type":595,"attrs":1091,"content":1092},{"textAlign":897},[1093],{"text":1094,"type":600,"marks":1095},"The evidence pointing towards BYD using LMFP for its Blade 2.0 platform are three-fold: energy density, operating voltage, and patents. ",[1096],{"type":603,"attrs":1097},{"color":547},{"type":656,"attrs":1099,"content":1101},{"level":1100,"textAlign":897},3,[1102,1107],{"text":1103,"type":600,"marks":1104},"Energy density and operating voltage",[1105],{"type":603,"attrs":1106},{"color":547},{"text":977,"type":600,"marks":1108},[1109],{"type":603,"attrs":1110},{"color":981},{"type":595,"attrs":1112,"content":1113},{"textAlign":897},[1114],{"text":1115,"type":600,"marks":1116},"The more substantive signal lies in the combination of voltage uplift and energy density improvement. Achieving a sustained nominal voltage around 3.8 V with meaningful energy density gains is more consistent with LMFP chemistry than with incremental optimisation of conventional LFP which typically operate between ~3.2–3.4V. ",[1117],{"type":603,"attrs":1118},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1120,"content":1121},{"textAlign":897},[1122],{"text":1123,"type":600,"marks":1124},"Although the operating voltage is an important metric, depending on how the data is presented this can refer to nominal voltage, average discharge voltage, or upper cut-off voltage. Without explicit confirmation of the cathode composition, the voltage figure alone cannot be taken as definitive proof of LMFP adoption. ",[1125],{"type":603,"attrs":1126},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1128,"content":1129},{"textAlign":897},[1130],{"text":1131,"type":600,"marks":1132},"BYD has announced two form factors for the Blade 2.0 platform with the short format geared towards high power applications compared to the long format which is optimised for energy density. ",[1133],{"type":603,"attrs":1134},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1136,"content":1137},{"textAlign":897},[1138],{"text":1139,"type":600,"marks":1140},"LMFP in general exhibits both two-phase and solid-solution transformation behaviour during cycling. Two-phase reactions produce flat voltage plateaus but can induce lattice strain. Solid-solution behaviour improves rate capability but reduces voltage stability. High-rate cycling promotes solid-solution behaviour, while low-rate operation favours two-phase transitions. Particle size reduction and structural tuning can expand the solid-solution region, improving rate capability. ",[1141],{"type":603,"attrs":1142},{"color":547},{"type":595,"attrs":1144,"content":1145},{"textAlign":897},[1146],{"text":1147,"type":600,"marks":1148},"Therefore, controlling particle size, Mn:Fe ratio and doping chemistry can tailor the dominant phase transition mechanism depending on application requirements (high energy vs high power).  It is possible that the two form factors could deploy different cell chemistries with the long format more likely to deploy LMFP due to the high energy density. Alternatively, different formulations of LMFP could be used for each form factor",[1149],{"type":603,"attrs":1150},{"color":547},{"type":646,"attrs":1152},{"id":963,"body":1153},[1154],{"id":1155,"_uid":1156,"type":653,"component":654,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"28095657","i-7694b8d8-690f-4b7b-8c7a-f63e81462f90",{"type":656,"attrs":1158,"content":1159},{"level":1100,"textAlign":897},[1160,1162],{"text":1161,"type":600},"Patents",{"text":977,"type":600,"marks":1163},[1164],{"type":603,"attrs":1165},{"color":981},{"type":595,"attrs":1167,"content":1168},{"textAlign":897},[1169],{"text":1170,"type":600},"BYD has filed patents relating to LMFP. Some of the challenges associated with using LMFP, such as manganese dissolution, poor electronic/ionic conductivity and degradation have also been claimed to be solved in one of the patents by using a coating layer.",{"type":595,"attrs":1172,"content":1173},{"textAlign":897},[1174],{"text":1175,"type":600},"The patents filed also fuel speculation that silicon-carbon will be used as the anode active material, utilising a nano coating to supress silicon’s expansion issues. It also points to a proprietary electrolyte called ‘Flash-Flow’ to enhance ion mobility.  ",{"type":595,"attrs":1177,"content":1178},{"textAlign":897},[1179],{"text":1180,"type":600},"Patents alone don’t necessarily prove LMFP will be the cathode used. Large integrated manufacturers such as BYD routinely explore multiple chemistries in parallel and file patents across a broad technical spectrum. ",{"type":646,"attrs":1182},{"id":1183,"body":1184},"f0713a24-8aac-4c16-8150-a105afb05a32",[1185],{"id":1186,"_uid":1187,"type":615,"component":654,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"3619636","i-c0832ded-45e1-4e69-a350-110552f5825c","BYD may be using lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP) cells for its new Blade 2.0 battery platform, unveiled earlier in March, though it has yet to officially declare which chemistry will be used. \n\nA key advantage of the new platform is support for “flash charging” which BYD claims can charge the battery from 10% to 70% in just five minutes when connected to its new 1,500kW charging system. \n\nBYD’s patent activity related to manganese-doped phosphate systems alongside reported improvements in energy density, and reference to a 3.8V operating voltage all point towards BYD using LMFP in the platform. \n\nIf BYD does use LMFP for Blade 2.0, Benchmark calculates that this could increase 2026 battery-grade manganese demand by 7%.",[1190,1200,1210],{"slug":1191,"name":1192,"content":1193},"will-roberts","Will Roberts",{"job_title":1194,"image":1195,"bio":1197,"linkedin":1198,"markets_covered":1199},"Automotive Research Lead",{"filename":1196},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/852x854/474a3cfca2/will-r.png","Will is part of the EV & Battery research team. As Automotive Research Lead, he manages all aspects of the team's view on global vehicle markets. Will leads forecasting for both the total vehicle market globally as well as electrified vehicles and works extensively on electric vehicle and battery market analysis, with a particular focus on the effects of legislation in the North American & European markets and, auto OEM strategy in the transition to EV. In addition, Will is also leading research in EV motors, vehicle platforms and systems. Will graduated from the University of Exeter, with a BSc in Physics and MSc in Mechanical Engineering.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/willroberts227/","EV and Battery",{"slug":1201,"name":1202,"content":1203},"varnika-agarwal","Varnika Agarwal",{"job_title":1204,"image":1205,"bio":1207,"linkedin":1208,"markets_covered":1209},"Battery Research Analyst",{"filename":1206},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/852x854/7f6c4846ba/varnika-a.png","Varnika is a Battery Research Analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence where her primary focus is on the technical side of electric vehicle, energy stationary storage and battery market analysis. She was transferred from Rho Motion, which was acquired by Benchmark Mineral. During 2 years at Rho Motion, Varnika has worked on a variety of products across the time and has played an active role in the analysis of different type of battery recycling technologies.She holds PhD in solid-state batteries at University of Oxford, which has helped to hone her research and technical skills.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/varnika-agarwal1/","Battery Tech, EV, BESS, Portables",{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1211},{"job_title":557,"image":1212,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},"Is BYD using LMFP for Blade 2.0 and what would this mean for Mn? ",[1215,1218,1221,1223,1224,1225],{"slug":1216,"name":1217},"batteries","Batteries",{"slug":1219,"name":1220},"battery-technology","Battery Technology",{"slug":1222,"name":298},"cathode",{"slug":833,"name":834},{"slug":830,"name":831},{"slug":1226,"name":1227},"ev","EV",{"id":1229,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1230,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1231,"is_external_url":50},156567825649007,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1588x1202/ac54be297d/blade-2-0-manganese-2x-1.png",{},{"id":1233,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1234,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1235,"is_external_url":50},156252379395819,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/6240x4160/3938ab9597/byd-blade-production.jpg",{},"BYD may be using lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP) cells for its new Blade 2.0 battery platform. If BYD does use LMFP for Blade 2.0, Benchmark calculates that this could increase 2026 battery-grade manganese demand by 10%.","Mar 18, 2026",1781799448974]