Chinese battery giant CATL has unveiled a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack for passenger vehicles that can deliver a driving range of more than 1,000 km (621 miles) on a single charge. The latest battery pack, called the Shenxing Plus, was unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show.
According to Gao Huan, CATL's chief technology officer, the Shenxing Plus is the first battery capable of delivering this level of range. The current Shenxing batteries, unveiled in 2023, have a maximum range of 700 km, and Gao stated that 50 more models would be using these packs by the end of the year.
The superior range of the new Shenxing Plus pack is achieved through the use of a granular gradation technology, which arranges each nano particle within the cathode to achieve optimal, ultra-compact density. Additionally, a proprietary 3D honeycomb-shaped material is added to the anode, helping to boost energy density while controlling volume expansion during the charge and discharge cycles.
The Shenxing Plus pack has a topological structure that is said to optimize overall pack efficiency by 7%, delivering an energy density of 205 Wh/kg. Both the Shenxing and Shenxing Plus packs support 4C superfast charging, which can deliver a 600 km range in just 10 minutes. This is made possible by using a li-ion conductive coating, 'transition' metal elements, and nanometre encapsulation, all of which allow more efficient energy transmission between the cathode and anode.
CATL, the world's largest EV battery manufacturer, has also developed an AI polarization model that can predict and control the charging current in real-time, allowing for the most rapid recharging levels possible.
The company's latest battery innovations come at a time when CATL is facing increased competition in the battery market and slowing global demand for EVs. However, with China currently leading the global EV sales market, CATL is now planning to establish an R&D centre in Hong Kong to support its continued technological developments.
