CATL battery boosts Tesla range in record time.

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【Summary】CATL, a major supplier to Tesla, has unveiled a new battery called Shenxing that can add up to 400km of range in just 10 minutes of fast charging. The battery, which uses lithium iron phosphate technology, aims to solve electric vehicles' charging and range limitations. Mass production is expected to start in 2023, with shipping in 2024. CATL is the global leader in EV battery market share, but faces competition from BYD.

FutureCar Staff Aug 16, 2023 6:15 AM PT

CATL battery boosts Tesla range in record time.

CATL, the Chinese battery giant and a major supplier to Tesla, has introduced its latest innovation to address the charging and range limitations of electric vehicles. During a launch briefing on Wednesday, Gao Han, chief technology officer of CATL's e-car division, unveiled the Shenxing battery, also known as "god-like movement". This battery can refuel up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) of range in just 10 minutes.

With the Shenxing battery, vehicles can travel from New York to Boston, a distance of approximately 215 miles, after a mere 10 minutes of fast charging. The battery is expected to enter mass production by the end of 2023 and shipping will commence in 2024.

Shenxing claims to be the world's first 4C superfast charging LFP battery. LFP stands for lithium iron phosphate, a type of battery chemistry that Tesla widely adopted in 2021 for its shorter-range cars, replacing nickel-cobalt-aluminum.

LFP technology is strongly supported by China, with CATL leading the way as a renewable energy champion. According to research firm SNE, CATL currently holds a 35% share in the global EV battery market, making it the leader. 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 the EV industry in China over the past few years. However, as government subsidies decrease and consumption contracts due to the post-COVID economic downturn, the growth of the EV industry is slowing down. Additionally, CATL faces tough competition from BYD, the Chinese EV giant that also manufactures its own batteries. In the first quarter, BYD ranked second with a 16.2% share of the global EV battery market, trailing behind CATL.