In a world increasingly focused on electric mobility, innovations in the field of batteries for battery-powered cars represent crucial advances for the future of the automobile, especially since the range and travel times load remain the two concerns of drivers. Two major announcements from CATL, as part of the Beijing show, could change the situation in these areas soon.
At the Beijing Motor Show, CATL presented its new LFP battery
Shenxing Plus, designed to give electric cars a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. This battery, equipped with LFP cells, would also have the capacity to recharge very quickly. If this is not the first announcement of its kind, the fact that it comes from CATL, the largest player in the sector with BYD, allows us to finally project ourselves into an industrialization process.
The end of autonomy anxiety
The first innovation, presented at the Beijing auto show, concerns the development of a new Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) battery, known as Shenxing Plus. This battery uses a new 3D honeycomb-shaped material added to the anode, which significantly increases energy density, which is traditionally the Achilles heel of LFP batteries.
Historically, LFP batteries offered lower energy density than NMC batteries, with a deficit of 15-20%. However, the Shenxing
Plus breaks new ground with an energy density of 205 Wh/kg, offering a range of 1,000 kilometers under the Chinese CLTC homologation cycle, although this figure is subject to adjustment under the stricter WLTP standards.
Flash recharge
The other notable innovation is the ability of this battery to support ultra-fast recharging. CATL announces that the Shenxing Plus can recover up to 600 kilometers of autonomy in just 10 minutes of charging, according to the generous CLTC cycle. Even taking into account a reduction due to the conversion to the WLTP cycle, this performance remains remarkable. This charging speed is made possible through the use of a new lithium-ion conductive coating and the addition of transition metal elements, which improves the transmission efficiency between the anode and cathode materials. .
These advances could radically change the situation for electric vehicles, in particular by making LFP batteries more competitive with NMCs. LFPs, in addition to their lower cost, offer greater longevity and the ability to be charged to 100% regularly without significant degradation. The potential impact on the market is significant, with direct implications on the accessibility and autonomy of electric vehicles. As a reminder, one of CATL’s most high-profile clients is Tesla. It would therefore not be surprising if the Tesla 3, produced in China, was one of the first global cars to benefit from it.
Source : Electrive
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