Integrals Power, a UK-based developer of advanced battery materials, has announced a technical milestone in the development of its Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathodes.
Durability tests conducted by QinetiQ have confirmed that Integrals Power’s LMFP cells surpassed 1,000 full charge–discharge cycles at a 1C rate under ambient conditions, retaining more than 80% of their original capacity. The success offers a significant step forward for LMFP as a scalable, safe and cost-effective alternative to conventional LFP and NMC chemistries.
CEO Behnam Hormozi sees the milestone not just as a scientific achievement but as a strategic imperative.
“We believe LMFP cells will enable EV battery packs to become less costly and less carbon-intensive to manufacture, while offering the range, long life, and safety that EVs and other applications need to go mainstream in global markets,” he said. “These latest results demonstrate to our customers that they can do exactly that.”
A personal mission
Hormozi’s career prior to founding Integrals Power in January 2020 included roles at Cummins, working on electric buses and trucks, and overseeing high-performance battery projects for McLaren models including the P1 and GTR. Those experiences illuminated a broader issue in battery development: heavy reliance on external supply chains, particularly for critical cathode materials.
“There was a massive bottleneck around the supply of materials,” he explained. “Even now, about 95% of LFP battery materials are shipped out of China. It was worse then – and I could see we needed to find a better, more local way of doing these things.” From its base in Milton Keynes, Integrals Power has scaled up from gram-level prototypes to multi-tonne pilot production. Its precursor-free synthesis method offers tight control over particle properties – crucial for electrochemical stability and performance – while avoiding Chinese raw materials and enabling full traceability from sources in Europe and North America.
The LMFP advantage
While LMFP is not new, conventional approaches have struggled to maintain performance when pushing manganese content beyond 60%. Integrals Power’s technology allows for 80% manganese – a level that unlocks up to 20% greater energy density over standard LFP while maintaining cost benefits and intrinsic safety.
“The higher the manganese content, the harder it becomes to control,” said Hormozi. “Manganese is very non-conductive and tends to dissolve, causing capacity fade. But with our precursor-free process, we’ve been able to mitigate many of these issues and reach stable electrochemical performance at high manganese loads.”
Hormozi noted that while LMFP’s cycle life has historically lagged behind LFP, recent adjustments – including a new formulation with 30% lower internal resistance – have yielded notable improvements.
Preliminary tests on the second-generation LMFP cells suggest even longer cycle life, with evaluations ongoing. “What that means is the cycle life is going to be certainly better than what we have observed so far,” Hormozi said. “We just don’t know how much better – it might be 20 or 30% or even more. That’s something we’ll find out over the next few months.”
Test results
The QinetiQ tests used conventional pouch cells, replacing only the cathode with Integrals Power’s LMFP material. “Everything was at ambient temperature – between 20 to 25 ° C – and around the cell component it was absolutely conventional,” Hormozi confirmed. “The only difference was the cathode substitution.”
The testing methodology adhered to standard industry protocols. “1C means charge in 60 minutes and discharge in 60 minutes,” he explained. “This is a technical reference – real-world use tends to be much less extreme, so 1,000 cycles here may equate to two, three or four thousand cycles under practical conditions. In fact, we’ve already passed 1,100 cycles and still see capacity retention above 80%.”
Hormozi added that the test results are being shared with OEMs and tier one suppliers, many of whom had expressed early interest in LMFP’s potential, particularly for sectors such as defence and marine applications, where safety and reliability are paramount.
Bridging the gap
“LFP has great safety and cost metrics but limited energy density,” Hormozi said. “On the other side, NMC has high energy density but suffers from high cost, toxicity and supply chain concerns. LMFP bridges that gap. You can get close to NMC’s performance but with the safety, lower cost, and environmental benefits of LFP.”
Hormozi emphasised that Integrals Power’s LMFP is designed to be compatible with existing cell manufacturing infrastructure. “This chemistry doesn’t require exotic processing,” he said. “That means we can enable a smoother integration into current supply chains.”
Looking to the future, Integrals Power intends to scale its LMFP production beyond the pilot line. The company has secured £4 million in non-dilutive government grants and is actively pursuing joint ventures and licensing agreements in Europe and North America. Hormozi was candid about the capital challenge facing deep-tech manufacturers. “We are aiming for patient capital. This isn’t an overnight journey. There’s homologation, facility buildout, and technology transfer. It can take three years or more.”
Integrals Power’s vision is to become a supplier of cathode active materials, not a cell manufacturer. “We want to enable better batteries. That means being the materials partner, not necessarily owning the whole manufacturing chain.”
Chinese export controls
The company’s urgency is amplified by recent Chinese government actions. “The new regulations on LFP and LMFP exports are a massive deal breaker,” Hormozi said. “This used to be a proposed idea but now it’s effective. For companies relying on high-spec cathodes from China, that may no longer be viable.”
He argued that domestic production must be prioritised to safeguard the future of EV manufacturing and energy independence. “If you do not have access to local materials, it becomes a massive problem. Costs go up. Complications multiply. It’s already a challenge competing with Europe, let alone China.”
Hormozi said additional government support will be essential: “To reach commercial scale, we’ll need £20–50 million in investment. We do have indications of further backing, but without broader support, the UK risks falling behind.”
Multiple applications
Beyond EVs, LMFP’s properties make it suitable for a range of applications including defence and stationary energy storage systems. Hormozi confirmed engagement with the UK Ministry of Defence and other strategic partners.
“There’s a huge interest for chemistries that balance energy density with safety. LMFP fits that profile across sectors.” Integrals Power’s Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate technology may offer the most timely solution to the battery bottlenecks now facing Europe’s energy transition.
