The surprising alliance between both companies, which began in 2017, aimed to develop long-range batteries, essential for the viability of electric vehicles (EV). However, despite years of effort and considerable investment, the project was ultimately cancelled, leaving behind a cluster of grand ambitions that did not come to fruition.
The Apple car project: in detail
Apple invested billions in its ambitious Apple Car project, with the intention of developing an autonomous electric car and advanced batteries. Due to the complexity of the project, the company reconsidered its approach and explored possible alliances with automakers. Finally, Apple focused its efforts on autonomous vehicle technology and long lasting batteriescollaborating with BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle giant, known for its innovative Blade batteries, which offer greater energy density and safety.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple worked closely with BYD on the development of lithium iron phosphate batteries, known to be safer and more efficient than the lithium-ion batteries used in most electric cars. Apple engineers contributed their expertise in thermal management and creating advanced battery packs, while BYD contributed their expertise in manufacturing and innovating LFP cells.
During the course of the collaboration, BYD engineers presented Apple executives with developing versions of its Blade battery, a technology that impressed the American company’s executives due to its ability to energy storage and its security standards. Apple requested adaptations to the Blade battery to further improve the range of its electric cars, which were in development at the time.
Apple Car: canceled a few months ago
Despite the progress with BYD, Apple canceled its project of electric car in early 2024 after several modifications and ended its collaboration with the Chinese company. Although it continued its efforts in autonomous driving technology, it decided to abandon the development of its own car and explore other battery options before closing the project completely. This resulted in the layoffs of more than 600 employees.
Although the Cupertino-based company did not acquire BYD’s Blade battery technology, its role within the collaboration was greatly influential, resulting in the evolution of these innovative batteriesnow key in BYD’s electric vehicles.
This episode of the “Apple Car Project” shows that even technology giants don’t always manage to fulfill their greatest ambitions, although the advances and collaborations they generate can have a significant impact on the industry.