China’s CATL Unveils Game-Changing 500 Wh/kg Solid-State EV Battery!
China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), a global leader in lithium-ion battery development, is making significant strides in all-solid-state battery technology. The company has set its sights on achieving small-scale production of its solid-state batteries by 2027, with a team of over 1,000 researchers focused on this effort. CATL’s work is centered on the sulfide route, a promising method for solid-state battery development. Recently, the company entered the trial production phase with 20 Ah samples, marking a major milestone in their progress.
CATL’s solid-state battery prototypes boast an impressive energy density of 500 Wh/kg, which is a 40% improvement over traditional lithium-ion batteries that typically max out at around 350 Wh/kg. However, there are still challenges to overcome, including refining the charging speed and cycle life, which are critical factors for battery longevity. Despite these hurdles, the company aims to advance its technology to a level where small-batch production is feasible by 2027, though mass production remains constrained by cost and manufacturing challenges.
This development comes on the heels of CATL’s recent launch of its Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery, designed to support advanced hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) ranges. The Freevoy battery promises a pure electric range of over 400 kilometers (250 miles) and features 4C superfast charging, allowing for 175 miles of range in just 10 minutes of charging. This innovation marks a significant step toward enhancing the performance of both extended range electric vehicles (EREVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
CATL is not alone in the race to develop all-solid-state batteries. Competitors such as BYD, Toyota, and Samsung are also making strides in this area. Samsung recently launched a pilot production line for solid-state batteries, which could offer a 600-mile range and charge in just 9 minutes. Meanwhile, Toyota’s new solid-state battery technology claims to cut the size, weight, and cost of EV batteries by 50%. Despite these advancements, mass production of solid-state batteries faces challenges, which means the technology may first be deployed in premium electric vehicles. Nevertheless, CATL’s progress indicates it is close to commercializing solid-state battery technology, setting the stage for future breakthroughs.
