CATL Unveils Ultra-Fast Charging Battery With Impressive Range Boost

Photo credit: cnEVPost CATL, the world's leading EV battery manufacturer and a major supplier to Tesla, has unveiled a revolutionary lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that can provide an additional 400 km of range after only a 10-minute charge.
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This battery, according to Reuters dubbed Shenxing, which means "fast-start" in ancient Chinese, represents a significant advancement in fast-charging technology.

CATL revealed during an online briefing on August 16 that the Shenxing battery can provide up to 700 km of range on China's CLTC cycle. Notably, this LFP battery is the first in the world to support 4C super fast charging, allowing a charging current of 12A or higher.

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Gao Han, Chief Technology Officer of CATL's E-Car Business, stated that the company hopes that the Shenxing battery will become a standard product available for all electric vehicles. CATL claims to have achieved high-speed charging, high energy density, and exceptional safety measures with this battery.

The Shenxing battery incorporates advanced technology such as accelerated lithium ion extraction, improved lithium-ion intercalation via fast-ion ring technology, a multi-gradient layered electrode design, a new superconducting electrolyte formula, and a thinner, safer separator, ChinaDaily reported.
This fast-charging LFP battery can also withstand a wide range of temperatures, charging from zero to 80 percent in just 30 minutes, even in temperatures as low as -10°C.
According to ChinaDaily, the Shenxing battery is expected to enter mass production in China by the end of this year, with the first electric vehicle models equipped with the battery hitting the market in early 2024.
LFP batteries are well-known for their low cost and long life, but they have historically had lower energy density and poor performance in cold temperatures. CATL claims to have overcome these limitations with the Shenxing battery, which provides an ideal balance of long-range capability and ease of refuelling.

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CATL has faced challenges as a result of weakening demand and cost-cutting pressure from EV manufacturers in the midst of a price war and a slowdown in auto sales.
Nonetheless, as Tesla's primary battery supplier, CATL's introduction of the high-speed charging LFP battery demonstrates the company's commitment to innovation and continued industry dominance.