The race to conquer charging times is clearly heating up. CATL, the world’s leading EV battery manufacturer, has unveiled an upgraded version of its flagship Shenxing battery cell, boasting charging speeds that could significantly shrink a major hurdle for EV adoption: range anxiety.
Imagine adding a remarkable 520 kilometers (around 323 miles) of driving range to your EV in a mere five minutes. That’s the bold claim from CATL regarding this new iteration of their Shenxing battery. The announcement follows closely on the heels of BYD’s own impressive reveal last month, showcasing a system capable of adding approximately 470 kilometers of range in a comparable timeframe.
These advancements from the two Chinese powerhouses position them ahead of established Western automakers in the quest for ultra-fast charging. To put it in perspective, current Tesla vehicles can gain about 321 kilometers of range in 15 minutes at a fast-charging station. Similarly, Mercedes-Benz’s recently launched all-electric CLA can achieve up to 325 kilometers of range with a 10-minute charge.
Industry analysts believe that the deployment of such high-speed charging capabilities could be a game-changer, effectively quashing consumer worries about limited driving range. However, questions remain about the speed at which these technologies can be rolled out globally, particularly given the current geopolitical climate.
The second generation of the Shenxing battery isn’t just about rapid charging. CATL claims it can also deliver an impressive 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles) on a single charge and achieve a peak charging speed of 2.5 kilometers per second. Speaking at a media event ahead of the Shanghai auto show, CATL’s Chief Technology Officer Gao Huan expressed his ambition for these new batteries to become “the standard for electric vehicles,” emphasizing a desire for collaboration to push the boundaries of supercharging.
CATL further revealed that the new Shenxing battery is slated for installation in over 67 EV models this year, assuring that this rapid charging capability won’t come at the expense of energy density.
But CATL wasn’t done there. Their “tech day” also saw the unveiling of their new sodium-ion battery, branded Naxtra, with mass production scheduled for December. This battery promises a range of around 200 kilometers for hybrid vehicles and 500 kilometers for fully electric vehicles, according to Huan.
Sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention as a potentially cheaper and safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries, particularly due to their improved performance in extreme temperatures. Historically, their lower energy density compared to lithium has been a drawback. However, CATL’s advancements suggest this gap is narrowing.
Furthermore, sodium-ion technology offers a potential pathway to reducing global reliance on China for critical minerals like lithium. Sodium is a more abundant resource, making this technology a closely watched solution for achieving greater energy independence.
At the event, Huan stated that their new sodium-ion battery would facilitate a shift from “single resource dependence” to “energy freedom,” potentially reshaping the global energy landscape. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with several companies regarding the integration of sodium-ion batteries into their vehicles.
As the world’s largest EV battery producer, supplying major players like Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen, CATL’s latest innovations have the potential to ripple across the entire automotive industry.
