√New fast-charging electric-car battery previewed ahead of showroom arrivals next year

A Chinese battery manufacturer that supplies one-third of the world’s electric vehicles has previewed new fast-charging technology that can deliver 400km of driving range in 10 minutes.

One of the world’s largest electric-car battery suppliers is about to start production of new fast-charging chemistry that claims to increase driving range and slash charge times,

Chinese technology giant CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited) – which supplies one-third of the world’s electric vehicles by volume, including top-selling Tesla vehicles – is poised to start production of its new ‘4C’ lithium-ion packs.

The new battery chemistry can be charged in about a quarter of the time as today’s lithium-ion battery packs.

While CATL only supplies to manufacturers with factories in China at present – including Tesla and Polestar – it says it eventually plans to make its technology available to car companies that produce electric vehicles overseas.

A technical representative for CATL at this week’s Munich motor show told Drive the 80kWh battery pack on display could charge from 20 per cent to 80 per cent capacity in 10 minutes on a super-fast charger.

“Mass production will start at the end of this year and we will see this battery technology in showrooms and on the road early next year,” the representative said, though he would not outline which cars – or car brands – were first in line for the technology.

According to the CATL website, this charging capacity can deliver 400km of driving range with a 10 minute charge, as well as a maximum driving range of more than 700km on a single full charge.

“At room temperature, Shenxing can charge to 80 per cent (capacity) in 10 minutes,” the company’s promotional material claims.

“Meanwhile, CATL leverages cell temperature control technology on system platforms to ensure that cells heat up to the optimal operating temperature range rapidly, allowing a [zero] to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes in temperatures as low as minus 10°C, and uncompromised 0 to 100km/h acceleration performance at low temperatures.”

According to the company’s website, CATL is the biggest lithium battery manufacturer in China.

The post New fast-charging electric-car battery previewed ahead of showroom arrivals next year appeared first on Drive.