CATL Launches Its Second Generation of Ultra-Fast Charging Batteries: 520 km of Range in 5 Minutes
CATL has unveiled an ultra-fast battery capable of delivering 520 km of range with just five minutes of charging. It is also launching a new, cheaper and more sustainable sodium battery with 175 Wh/kg of energy density. These innovations aim to make electric cars more affordable and accelerate their global adoption.
Chinese battery giant CATL has unveiled its new generation of Shenxing ultra-fast charging batteries, a technology that promises to completely transform the electric car experience and bring charging times closer to those of refueling cars with combustion engines.
As the company announced at an event held in Shanghai, this new battery will be able to offer 12C charging rates, which means it can recover up to 520 kilometers of range with just five minutes of charging, in addition to reaching 80% capacity from zero in less than 15 minutes.
This advance is no small feat: it will drastically reduce waiting times, one of the major obstacles to electric car adoption, primarily from a symbolic and advertising perspective. And it will also do so with a real product, as more than 67 electric vehicle models are expected to integrate this new Shenxing battery throughout this year.
Sodium battery with 175 Wh/kg
But that’s not all. CATL has also announced a new sodium battery model with an energy density of 175 Wh/kg, a more affordable and sustainable alternative to lithium, which, with this leap forward, is on par with the popular LFP battery in terms of energy density.
It’s still below NCM batteries, but sodium batteries are much more stable, better withstand extreme temperatures, and are manufactured with abundant materials, which will allow for much more economical production, as well as making cells easier to recycle.
Robin Zeng, founder of CATL, has made it clear that his goal goes beyond manufacturing batteries: he seeks to reinvent the company as a global provider of green energy and accelerate the development of more affordable electric vehicles for all markets.
This announcement comes amid fierce competition in China, where price wars between manufacturers have put pressure on profit margins. In fact, in 2024, CATL recorded its slowest growth rate in six years, with a 15% increase in net profit. Even so, it continues to lead the global market, and these new technologies strengthen its position as a key player in the future of electric mobility.
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