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The world's largest battery company touted three major breakthroughs this week, the headliner of which is an EV battery that supports up to 932 miles of range.
This "Freevoy Dual-Power Battery" is not a typical battery because it combines two packs in one, creating "two powerful 'independent energy zones,'" China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) said at a press conference ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show.
The first zone is designed to meet "daily driving needs," while a second "extended range energy zone" kicks in for long-distance travel—"a fundamental shift in how we approach electric vehicle range limitations," CATL tells Car News China, and the dawn of "the multi-power era."
The battery system balances multiple different chemistries, including familiar formulas like Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) chemistry and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP). It also contains CATL's "self-forming anode" technology, which increases energy density by 60%.
CATL also says that having different battery types and zones, rather than one static pack, provides a "more stable and reliable power supply" for autonomous vehicles, particularly for Level 3 and Level 4 systems. In the US, brands like Tesla largely use Level 2 systems.
It's unclear how much these batteries would cost, and when they will be publicly available. It's a moot point for US drivers as long as the Trump administration's sky-high tariffs remain in effect.
Charging to 323 Miles in 5 Minutes
CATL also unveiled the second-generation version of its Shenxing battery, which first debuted in 2023 and already powers some commercially available EVs outside the US. The new version is expected to power over 67 electric vehicle models this year, according to Reuters.
It has a 497-mile range (800km) and charges to 323 miles in just five minutes, "virtually eliminating the frustration of waiting," CATL says. That's up from 250 miles in 10 minutes on the first version. It's designed to work across a range of temperatures, even as low as -10°C.
Keep in mind, these charging numbers are only possible on the most advanced megawatt chargers, which are not common on most roads, especially in the US.
Reduced Dependency on Lithium
Finally, CATL teased a third major innovation, the Naxtra battery, which it says will be the world's first mass-produced sodium-ion battery. They promise higher energy density and greater longevity than batteries today, and should cost less because they do not require lithium.
"With sodium's inherent safety and abundant reserves, it efficiently reduces dependence on lithium resources and strengthens the foundation of new energy technologies," CATL says.
Car News China says mass production should start in December.
While CATL is the largest EV battery producer in the world, it faces growing competition in China. Last month, it reported 15% growth in 2024 net profit, the slowest pace in six years, according to Reuters.
In 2023, Ford said it would build a $3.5 billion Michigan plant using technology from CATL, though that was later scaled back. Earlier this year, the Biden administration designated CATL as a "Chinese military company," which the company denies.