CATL battery boosts Tesla range in record time

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【Summary】CATL, a major Tesla supplier, 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 chemistry, is expected to begin mass production by the end of 2023. CATL currently holds a 35% share of the global EV battery market, but faces competition from companies like BYD. This superfast charging battery could help overcome the limitations of electric vehicle charging and range.

FutureCar Staff Aug 18, 2023 4:48 PM 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. The new battery, called Shenxing or "god-like movement," has the capability to recharge up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) of range in just 10 minutes. Gao Han, the chief technology officer of CATL's e-car division, shared this information during a launch briefing on Wednesday.

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

Shenxing is being promoted as "the world's first 4C superfast charging LFP battery." LFP refers to lithium iron phosphate, a battery chemistry that Tesla widely adopted in 2021 for its shorter-range cars, replacing nickel-cobalt-aluminum. This type of battery technology is favored in China, where CATL is a leading advocate. In fact, CATL holds a 35% share of the global EV battery market in Q1, according to research firm SNE. 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 fueled by the surge in electric vehicle adoption in China over the past few years. However, the EV industry is now experiencing a slowdown due to reduced government subsidies and decreased consumer spending in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, CATL faces fierce competition from BYD, another Chinese EV giant that manufactures its own batteries. In Q1, BYD held the second position in the global EV battery market with a 16.2% share, trailing behind CATL.