CATL battery boosts range by 400km in just 10 minutes

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【Summary】Chinese battery giant CATL has unveiled a new battery called Shenxing that can add up to 400km of range in just 10 minutes of charging. The battery, which uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, aims to address the charging and range limitations of electric vehicles. Mass production is expected to begin by the end of 2023, with shipping to start in 2024. CATL, a major supplier to Tesla, holds a 35% share of the global EV battery market.

FutureCar Staff Aug 18, 2023 7:12 AM PT

CATL battery boosts range by 400km in just 10 minutes

CATL, the Chinese battery giant and a major supplier to Tesla, has introduced its latest product aimed at addressing the charging and range limitations of electric vehicles. At a launch briefing on Wednesday, Gao Han, the chief technology officer of CATL's e-car division, revealed the battery called Shenxing, which is capable of providing up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) of range in just 10 minutes.

This means that vehicles equipped with Shenxing can travel from New York to Boston, which is approximately 215 miles, after a quick 10-minute charging session. Mass production of the battery is expected to commence by the end of 2023, with shipping scheduled to start in 2024.

Shenxing is being marketed as the world's first 4C superfast charging LFP battery. LFP stands for lithium iron phosphate, a battery chemistry that Tesla widely adopted in 2021 for its shorter-range cars instead of nickel-cobalt-aluminum.

China has been a strong advocate of LFP technology, with CATL leading the way as its renewable energy champion. According to research firm SNE, CATL currently holds a 35% share of the global EV battery market in Q1. LFP batteries are known for their affordability and chemical stability, although they have a lower energy density compared to other battery chemistries, which affects the range of electric vehicles.

CATL's remarkable growth has been driven by the surge in electric vehicle adoption in China in recent years. However, the EV industry is now slowing down due to reduced government subsidies and decreased consumer spending amid the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, CATL faces fierce competition from BYD, the Chinese EV giant that also manufactures its own batteries. In Q1, BYD ranked second in the global EV battery market with a 16.2% share.