CATL unveils fast-charging battery with impressive range boost

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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 charging. The battery, which uses lithium iron phosphate technology, is expected to go into mass production by the end of 2023. CATL currently holds a 35% share of the global EV battery market, but faces competition from BYD.

FutureCar Staff Aug 23, 2023 7:17 AM PT

CATL unveils fast-charging battery with impressive range boost

CATL, the Chinese battery giant and a major supplier to Tesla, has introduced its latest innovation to address the limitations of electric vehicle charging and range. 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 has the capability to provide up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) of range in just 10 minutes.

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

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

China has been a strong advocate for LFP technology, with CATL, its renewable energy leader, spearheading its development. In fact, CATL currently holds a 35% share in the global EV battery market, 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 impressive growth has been driven by the electric vehicle boom in China over the past few years. However, the industry is now slowing down due to reduced government subsidies and decreased consumption in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, CATL faces fierce competition from BYD, the Chinese EV giant that also manufactures its own batteries. In the first quarter, BYD held the second position in the global EV battery market with a 16.2% share.