CATL unveils fast-charging battery with 400km range boost in 10 minutes

author: FutureCar Staff    

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 or "god-like movement" can provide up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) of range in just 10 minutes of charging.

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

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

China strongly supports the use of LFP technology, which is championed by CATL, a leading player in renewable energy. According to research firm SNE, CATL held 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 the Chinese EV market in recent years. However, the EV industry is currently slowing down due to reduced government subsidies and a contraction in consumption amid the post-COVID economic downturn. Additionally, CATL faces fierce competition from BYD, the Chinese EV giant that also produces its own batteries. In Q1, BYD held the second position in the global EV battery market with a 16.2% share.

FutureCar Staff