CATL launches Bedrock Chassis with strengthened safety

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On December 24, 2024, Chinese battery giant CATL unveiled its CIIC (CATL Integrated Intelligent Chassis) ultra-high-safe flagship version, the Bedrock Chassis. The chassis has previously completed winter tests in Heihe and summer tests in Turpan. It enables a range of over 1,000 kilometers and has passed rigorous safety tests, including frontal collisions at 120 km/h with 100% overlap and pole crash scenarios.

Photo credit: CATL

The Bedrock Chassis is a skateboard-style platform, a concept first proposed by General Motors in the early 2000s, where the body and chassis are completely separated. All core components, such as the powertrain, steering, suspension, and electrification modules, are integrated into this skateboard structure, providing more flexibility for vehicle manufacturers in designing the upper body structure.

The Bedrock Chassis improves safety through its structural design, cells, and high-voltage system. Notably, it can withstand frontal and pole crashes at 120 km/h without catching fire or exploding. The structure features a cell-to-chassis integrated battery design with multiple energy-absorbing paths, while high-tensile steel and aluminum alloys enhance passive safety. The battery cells are optimized with high-toughness insulation to reduce deformation and the risk of thermal runaway.

Additionally, the chassis includes a high-voltage system that can cut off the power circuit in 0.01 seconds and release residual energy in 0.2 seconds, significantly reducing the risk of battery fires. With over 1,000 km of range and support for L4 autonomous driving, the Bedrock Chassis promises fast vehicle development, reducing the overall complete vehicle R&D cycle to just 12-14 months.