Apple’s Secretive Electric Dreams: A Look into the Tech Giant’s Collaboration with BYD on EV Batteries

Coverage indicates that before discontinuing its widely speculated EV initiative, Apple had collaborated with China's BYD in the realm of electric vehicle battery technology, as per a Wednesday disclosure by Bloomberg.

According to the report, the collaboration between the two firms commenced approximately in 2017, with the objective of crafting lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells specifically for the Apple automobile. With a wealth of expertise in this technology, BYD boasts enhanced cooling and safety features in its Blade battery, which it unveiled in 2020.

BYD's Electric Vehicle Model

According to sources, Alexander Hitzinger has been tasked by Apple with leading the initiative. Previously serving as the technical chief for Porsche's 919 hybrid racing venture, Hitzinger moved to Apple, where he took on the role of product design chief for the company's special projects division between 2016 and 2019. Afterward, he rejoined the Volkswagen Group to focus on self-driving technology and to contribute to an electric vehicle project for Audi.

It's said that the group comprised of 50 engineers spearheaded by Mujeeb Ijaz from Apple, along with Michael He, who is the Vice President of the battery division at BYD, acting on behalf of the firm. The rumor mill suggests a more sizeable crew, approximately 2,000 members, was dedicated to the automobile initiative. Often dubbed "Project Titan," the venture has been a topic of speculation in the press since 2014, yet tangible details have remained scarce.

BYD Han Electric Vehicle

It's been suggested that Apple has shifted its focus from its original battery partnership, looking into alternatives from various suppliers. In 2021, there were two separate instances where it was reported that Apple was in talks with BYD and CATL, another Chinese company, about lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, potentially to be produced in the United States. Additionally, reports from December 2020 indicated that Apple was exploring a unique "monocell" battery structure that would allow for more internal space.

According to sources, Apple has pulled the plug on its electric vehicle initiative earlier in the year, downgrading it from an ambitious self-driving car to a more simplistic model. It appears that Apple's future contributions to the automotive sector will probably be confined to providing the CarPlay system, which allows for phone functions to be displayed in cars, to car manufacturers.

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