No nickel and no cobalt, far harder to set on fire, and it is the one chemistry where the charging advice genuinely flips.
At a glance
- Energy density. lower than NCA or NMC, so less range for the same weight
- Found in. Rivian Commercial Van and dual motor Standard R1S and R1T, Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard Range, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt.
- Life. The longest cycle life of the lithium chemistries in controlled testing.
- Weakness. Tolerant. Cold is its weakness, not heat.
Where you will find it
Rivian Commercial Van and dual motor Standard R1S and R1T, Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard Range, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt. The Tesla Model 3 rear wheel drive had one until it left the US market in October 2024.
What is good about it
Cheap, very cycle stable, and much harder to drive into thermal runaway.
What is not
Less energy dense, and noticeably worse in cold for both range and fast charge acceptance.
How long it lasts
The longest cycle life of the lithium chemistries in controlled testing.
Heat and cold
Tolerant. Cold is its weakness, not heat.
What it means for you
Charge it to 100 percent periodically. The voltage curve is nearly flat through the middle of the range, so the battery management system cannot infer state of charge from voltage and needs a full charge to recalibrate. Tesla instructs this. Ford asks for 100 percent at least monthly on the Mach-E.
Where the advice is contested
It is overstated to say 100 percent is free. A Journal of the Electrochemical Society paper still found high state of charge to be the most critical degradation factor for iron phosphate too. The honest version is that it tolerates a full charge far better than the nickel chemistries, and the calibration benefit is real.
Buying a Used EV or Hybrid?
Get the battery measured before you pay for it. A PPI Auto inspector tests the pack on the car you are looking at and sends you the numbers. Starting at $225.