CATL, one of the world’s largest traction battery manufacturers for electric cars based in China, has unveiled a new battery lineup called the Shenxing Pro. The cells in these packs are good for 1,000,000 km (621,371 miles) of range before they need to be replaced. More impressively still, they charge within minutes.
According to Reuters, CATL’s current development strategy titled “In Europe, for Europe” envisions launching the production of these innovative battery packs for EVs in Hungary in just a few months.
There are two new battery types coming to the market. One possesses exceptional energy density and longevity. A typical EV can cover up to 758 km (471 miles) on these cells per day and stay functional for 12 years (or the aforementioned million kilometers, whichever comes first). CATL reckons that the power storage capacity of these cells won’t degrade by more than 9% after 200,000 km (124,274 miles) of use, making EVs based on them attractive for rental and leasing companies in addition to private owners.
The second Shenxing Pro battery type uses a traditional lithium-iron-phosphate design and prioritizes raw charging speed, with the company claiming it’s the best in class. Just 10 minutes of charging refills this battery pack for 478 km (297 miles) of range, implying a charging rate of 0.8 kilometers per second (half a mile of range regained per second). Furthermore, the vendor claims the charging efficiency no longer takes a dip in extreme cold weather.
On top of all that, both battery types come equipped with advanced fire prevention systems that should minimize all risks associated with thermal runaway. Last but not least, the individual cell design was optimized to enable making the exterior case 25% more rigid and damage-resistant.
CATL claims that the Shenxing Pro represents the ideal energy storage solution for the automotive industry of Europe. Once the factory in Debrecen, Hungary is complete, it is expected to employ 9,000 people and churn out 100 gigawatts’ worth of batteries per year. The company hopes to secure supply agreements with BMW, Volkswagen Group and Stellantis, among others. The American corporation is currently helping CATL launch a second production line in Europe – in Spain, to be specific.
