China’s CATL has just unveiled a new battery breakthrough, the Shenxing PLUS Battery, at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show on Thursday.
CATL introduces Shenxing Plus LFP battery in Beijing
According to the press release, the CATL Shenxing PLUS Battery is the first lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP) to exceed 1,000 kilometers with 4C superfast charging.
The Shenxing PLUS Battery can add 370 miles of driving range in just 10 minutes. It can also apparently gain a 1 km driving range in just a single minute. It employs more affordable, advanced lithium iron phosphate for faster charging capability.
It also efficiently supports superfast charging even during extreme temperatures of -20°C (-4°F).
CATL utilized its internally developed 3D honeycomb material to further improve the new battery’s energy density. In effect, it gained an energy density of 205 Wh/kg, a significant increase from most traditional NCM batteries. For context, LFP batteries tend to have lower energy density. However, CATL managed to change that.
“The Shenxing PLUS battery pack has a topological structure optimized on top of module-free CTP 3.0 technology, enhancing the packing efficiency by 7%. We make sure that every nanoparticle is in exactly the right place in the cathode.”
CATL
Significant technological advancement
CATL’s introduction of the new Shenxing PLUS Battery comes just within eight months after it debuted the Shenxing superfast charging battery in August 2023.
The Shenxing battery can add 248 miles (400 km) in just 10 minutes, relatively lower than the more advanced version’s 370 miles. It can also yield up to 700+ km driving range.
The new battery tech demonstrates CATL’s commitment to continuous innovation to push the boundaries of electric vehicles.
Leading the EV battery sector
CATL continues to lead the electric vehicle battery technology as it strives to achieve longer-range, faster-charging products.
In 2023, CATL dominated the global battery industry for the seventh consecutive year. Its electric vehicle battery consumption hit a whopping 259.7 GWh in the said period.
Moreover, its total global battery consumption surged to 705.5 GWh. These remarkable results enabled the Chinese battery giant to claim 36.8% of the market last year. This market share is apparently almost 21% ahead of its closest competitor, BYD.
CATL announced early this year that it plans to cut LFP battery costs per kWh by a notable 50% in mid-2024. Now, the company seems to be getting close to fulfilling this promise. You can watch CATL’s 2024 presentation below:
