BorgWarner enters deal with BYD’s FinDreams to manufacture blade battery in Europe and Americas

BorgWarner has signed a strategic relationship agreement with BYD subsidiary FinDreams Battery.

BorgWarner will be in charge of manufacturing LFP battery packs for commercial vehicles utilizing FinDreams Battery blade cells (presented in 2020) in Europe, the Americas, and select regions of Asia Pacific. The duration of the agreement is 8 years. At Busworld Europe 2023 BYD presented the B2 electric bus platform, utilizing the Blade Battery.

BorgWarner’s battery capabilities build back on the purchase of German battery module producer Akasol in 2021. Akasol has been providing battery modules for major bus OEMs such as Volvo Buses and Daimler Buses. It has been primarily focusing on NMC formula, but under BorgWarner group the LFP chemical has been added in the portfolio, as “there has been a significant increase in energy density”, as explained by Andreas Vath, Manager Advanced and Application Development to Sustainable Bus.

BorgWarner – FinDreams: a deal for blade battery

In addition to receiving state-of-the-art blade cells for manufacturing LFP battery packs in the covered geographies, BorgWarner will receive a license from FinDreams Battery to use FinDreams Battery’s intellectual property related to its battery pack design and manufacturing process. 

“The lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry is an exciting technology that is becoming increasingly important globally due to its cost competitiveness. We have seen increased demand from our customers for packs with LFP cells,” said Frédéric Lissalde, President and CEO of BorgWarner. “We believe FinDreams Battery is right for BorgWarner in this area, with its 20-plus years of experience and success in LFP batteries for the mobility sector across China and Europe.  We are excited to work together to develop cutting-edge cell and battery pack technology to further electrify this market segment.” 

Micheal He, President and CEO of FinDreams Battery, said, “At the key timing of complicated geopolitics and starting point of lithium ion phosphate electrification for overseas commercial vehicles, the overseas localization cooperation with BorgWarner on battery packs using FDB blade cells in the territory takes the advantages of each other’s strengths, provides diversified and flexible options for overseas customers, and also offers extra access to localized battery packs using FDB blade cells for overseas customers. Devoted to the vision of ‘let people use batteries carefree’, FDB will cooperate with BorgWarner to make joint efforts for the speedy electrification of the overseas commercial vehicle market.”