CATL launches 4C superfast charging LFP battery ‘Shenxing’

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 16, Chinese power battery CATL unveiled the world's first mass-producible 4C fast-charging battery that adopts lithium iron phosphate (LFP) materials– the "Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery" (called "Shenxing Battery" for short). This breakthrough innovation achieves an astonishing "10-minute charge for 400 kilometers of range," and boasts an extended range of over 700 kilometers, according to the company's introduction.

Photo credit: CATL

Gao Huan, CTO of CATL's domestic passenger vehicle business unit, revealed that the Shenxing Battery is set to commence mass production by the end of this year, with electric vehicles featuring this revolutionary technology expected to hit the market in the first quarter of the upcoming year.

Amidst the relentless advancement of battery technology, battery's comprehensive performance has made significant strides. In the wake of achieving remarkable ranges for new energy vehicles, the anxiety over power replenishment has emerged as a primary concern for potential buyers of electric vehicles. CATL said it has consistently adhered to the essence of electrochemistry, propelling innovation across materials, material systems, system structures, and more. This innovation has once again shattered the performance boundaries of lithium iron phosphate material systems, resulting in the creation of the Shenxing Battery that excels in ultra-fast charging, extended range, and heightened safety.

Photo credit: CATL

To enhance the positive electrode's performance, the "Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery" employs super-electron grid cathode technology and fully nano-optimized lithium iron phosphate cathode materials. The integration of a super-electron grid reduces lithium-ion discharge resistance, enabling rapid charging signal response.

In terms of the innovation in anode materials, the Shenxing Battery adopts CATL's latest second-generation rapid ion-loop technology. This technology modifies the graphite surface, adding lithium-ion embedding channels and shortening the embedding distance, thus creating a "highway" for ion conduction. Simultaneously, the battery employs a multi-gradient layered electrode design, achieving a perfect balance between fast charging and extended range.

Regarding the electrolyte conduction, CATL has developed a fire new super-conductive electrolyte formula, effectively reducing electrolyte viscosity and significantly enhancing conductivity. Additionally, CATL has optimized the ultra-thin SEI (Solid Electrolyte Interface) membrane, further decreasing conduction resistance.

CATL has also improved the porous rate and minimized tortuosity pore channels in the separator, thus enhancing the rate of lithium-ion liquid phase transport.

Photo credit: CATL

The company said the Shenxing Battery not only achieves pioneering 4C fast charging, but also employs innovative structural designs and intelligent algorithms to ensure high range capabilities, all-temperature rapid charging, and elevated safety.

Built upon the CTP3.0 technology, CATL introduces the groundbreaking one-body grouping technology that achieves exceptional integration and assembly efficiency, propelling the Shenxing Battery beyond the limits of LFP performance to effortlessly provide over 700 kilometers of range.

At ambient temperatures, the new battery can charge to 80% State of Charge (SOC) in just 10 minutes. Furthermore, CATL employs the cell temperature control technology at the system level, ensuring rapid heating to the optimal working temperature range in cold environments. Even at -10°C, it can charge to 80% in 30 minutes, and the acceleration performance remains unaffected under low-temperature discharge conditions, the company added.

The Shenxing Battery also utilizes enhanced electrolyte and is equipped with a high-security coating separator, providing a "double safety guarantee" for battery security. Moreover, through intelligent algorithms controlling the overall temperature field, real-time fault detection systems are in place.