CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery maker, recently unveiled upgraded battery cells that promise faster charging for electric vehicles compared to its rival BYD. This development puts the two Chinese companies ahead of their competitors in the race to address a major obstacle in the transition from petrol vehicles to electric ones.
The new version of CATL’s flagship Shenxing battery cell claims to offer a range of 520km from just five minutes of charging time. This announcement comes on the heels of BYD’s revelation last month of a charging system that could add about 470km of range to its batteries in a similar time frame.
These advancements from Chinese battery manufacturers surpass those of major western rivals. For example, Tesla vehicles currently offer up to 321km of added range in 15 minutes, while Germany’s Mercedes-Benz launched its all-electric CLA compact sedan, which can be charged for up to 325km in 10 minutes using a fast-charging station.
Analysts believe that the deployment of high-speed charging systems by CATL and BYD will help alleviate consumer concerns regarding EV driving range. However, there are uncertainties about how quickly these technologies can be introduced outside of China amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.
CATL’s second-generation Shenxing battery, with a range of 800km on a single charge, boasts a peak charging speed of 2.5km per second. The company aims to collaborate with industry leaders to drive innovation in supercharging and make these batteries the standard for electric vehicles.
According to analysts at Bernstein, charging speeds have more than doubled in the past year and increased tenfold over the past 3-4 years. CATL plans to install the new Shenxing battery in over 67 EV models this year, without compromising energy density for fast charging.
In addition to the upgraded battery cells, CATL also introduced its new sodium-ion battery during a tech day event. This battery, named Naxtra, is set to enter mass production in December and is projected to provide a range of approximately 200km for hybrid vehicles and 500km for electric vehicles. Sodium-ion batteries are considered a more cost-effective and safer alternative to lithium-based batteries, functioning well in extreme temperatures.
The development of sodium-ion batteries is significant as it could reduce global reliance on China for critical minerals, as these batteries do not use lithium resources. CATL’s chief technology officer, Gao Huan, expressed optimism about the potential of sodium-ion batteries to reshape the global energy landscape and reduce dependence on a single resource.
Huan revealed that discussions are ongoing with several companies regarding the integration of sodium-ion batteries into their vehicles, indicating a growing interest in this alternative energy storage technology.
