Up to 1,500 km on a single charge, full charge in 6 minutes 30 seconds, sodium battery mass production within the year...
CATL (Ningde Shidai), China’s top battery maker by global market share, on the 21st unveiled new battery technologies and a product roadmap as competition in electric-vehicle batteries intensifies. The company’s announcements were widely seen as an effort to widen its lead.
According to Chinese media including 21st Century Business Herald, CATL held a “Super Tech Day” event on the 21st. The main highlight was a “condensed-state” version of its flagship Qilin battery. CATL described the technology as a high-performance semi-solid battery — widely viewed as a step just short of an all-solid-state battery.
CATL said it applied its own semi-solid electrolyte technology, combining an ultra-high-concentration nickel cathode with a silicon-based anode. The company put the energy density at 350 Wh/kg, among the highest levels for mass-produced batteries.
Gao Huan, CATL’s chief technology officer, said the company upgraded from a liquid electrolyte to a condensed-state electrolyte to address safety issues “at the root.” Using a condensed-state electrolyte instead of a liquid reduces leakage risk and can significantly lower the chance of fire, he said.
In driving tests, CATL said a premium sedan equipped with the battery traveled up to 1,500 km on a single charge. CATL also said the battery pack weighs less than 650 kg and has a volume of 309 liters — about 400 kg lighter and 225 liters smaller than a lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, battery capable of about 1,500 km under the same conditions. The company said the battery retains more than 85% of its capacity at minus 20 degrees Celsius and supports ultra-fast charging at 10C output, allowing a charge to 80% in about 10 minutes.
CATL said the condensed-state battery is slated for premium models such as the Nio ET9 and Huawei M9, with mass production planned from the third quarter of this year. It also said the pilot production line has achieved a yield of more than 95%.
Industry observers described the announcement as a potential turning point as power-battery technology moves from liquid electrolytes toward solid electrolytes. They said higher energy density and longer range could accelerate adoption of premium EVs and broaden potential uses in emerging markets such as low-altitude aircraft and ultra-long-haul commercial vehicles.
CATL also unveiled its third-generation Shenxing ultra-fast-charging battery. The company said it achieved a full charge in just six minutes at room temperature, setting a new benchmark for charging speed. That would be faster than the roughly nine-minute full charge claimed last month by rival Chinese automaker BYD for its second-generation Blade battery.
CATL also announced plans to begin mass production of sodium-ion batteries within the year. Sodium batteries are seen as a next-generation technology that could reduce reliance on lithium, cobalt and nickel, drawing attention for cost stability and supply-chain considerations. CATL also said it will accelerate expansion of battery swapping and charging infrastructure. Working with Chinese automakers, it plans to build 100,000 charging and battery-swap stations by the end of 2028.
CATL attributed its technology push to heavy research and development spending. Chairman Zeng Yuqun said the company invested more than 100 billion yuan in R&D over the past decade, including 20 billion yuan last year. He said CATL holds more than 60,000 patents and has ranked No. 1 for six consecutive years in patent application growth.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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