CATL unveils a 6-minute battery, 1,500 km packs and sodium-ion production

CATL, the Chinese company that leads the global market for electric car batteries, has just outlined its latest innovations. Among them is a battery that can be fully recharged in 6 minutes. The firm also introduced two batteries that could deliver 1,500 km of range. On top of that, CATL is preparing to mass-produce sodium-ion batteries to reduce its reliance on lithium.

At an automotive-focused event held on 21 April, CATL - the world’s number one supplier of electric vehicle batteries - showcased these new technologies. With this new generation of batteries, the company says it wants to tackle some of the key drawbacks associated with electric cars, including driving range and charging speed.

Shenxing III: a full recharge in 6 minutes

One of the headline announcements was the Shenxing III battery, which CATL says can be recharged from empty to full in just six minutes.

This represents a major step forward compared with the previous generation of the same technology, which needs 15 minutes to go from 5% to 80% charge.

CATL’s announcement also underlines the lead it believes it holds over rival BYD, whose “Blade” technology enables an electric car battery to be recharged in 9 minutes.

Qilin III and Qilin Condensed: 1,500 km range

For drivers who prioritise long-distance capability, CATL has also developed the Qilin III and Qilin Condensed batteries. These are claimed to offer 1,500 km of driving range - more than the distance between Paris and Rome.

Sodium-ion batteries and the Nextra alternative to lithium

CATL is also advancing a technology aimed at lowering its dependence on lithium. For some time, the company has been exploring an alternative called Nextra, based on sodium-ion chemistry.

During the event, CATL said the world’s first series production of sodium-ion batteries will begin this year.

CATL says it can do even better

Even though the technologies presented in April are already striking, the Chinese group believes it can push them further over time. “The limits of electrochemistry are still far from being reached, and the possibilities of materials science are still far from being exhausted,” said Robin Zeng, CATL’s founder, according to the Financial Times.

What we think

At this stage, it is not yet clear which vehicle models will be the first to receive these CATL innovations. However, if these new CATL batteries deliver on their promises, they could encourage more people to switch to electric cars.