Auto China 2024: CATL Unveils Its 1,000 KM Range LFP Battery

CATL unveiled its ground-breaking Shenxing Plus battery at Auto China 2024, marking a significant milestone as the world's first lithium iron phosphate battery to deliver 1,000 KM range on a single charge. It also has 4C ultra-fast charging capabilities that grants up to 600 KM range with just 10 minutes of charging.

During the launch, it was said that traditional lithium iron phosphate batteries have an energy density of approximately 140Wh/kg. Meanwhile, the Shenxing Plus battery system achieves a maximum energy density of 205Wh/kg, boosting the vehicle's range by 40% over typical batteries and enabling long-distance journeys.

To achieve this, CATL made substantial advancement in material and structural design. Key to which is the adoption of 3D honeycomb material at the anode, which increases energy density and reduces volumetric expansion during charging cycles.

Simultaneously, the cathode uses particle gradation to achieve ultra-high compaction and density. Additionally, the battery pack structure has been optimised with CTP3.0 technology to maximise space utilisation and push the limits of what's physically possible, increasing volume efficiency by 7%.

CATL also addressed the normal low-temperature constraints of lithium iron phosphate batteries through many system-level enhancements. At temperatures as low as -20° C, the Shenxing PLUS increases charging efficiency by 50%, doubles charging speed, and boosts power output in the lower state of charge (SOC) ranges, all ensuring dependable performance even in cold weather.

An advanced AI-driven polarisation model based on BMS core algorithms has been developed to dynamically estimate and adjust charging current by analysing voltage, temperature, and real-time current data. In turn, this optimises the balance between safety and charging speed regardless of SOC accuracy.

CATL also revealed that it is currently operating three cutting-edge 'lighthouse' factories specialising in battery production. Said facility employs tech such as 300 CCD, medical-grade X-ray, and CT scanning to detect and eliminate minute defects and potential issues early in the manufacturing process.

Furthermore, at the launch ceremony, CATL also kick-started its own charging network in China in collaboration with Huawei, Star Charging, Shudao New Energy, and Cloud Fast Charging.