New electric vehicle battery technology: 10-minute charge, 1 million km lifespan.
CATL's Shenxing Pro electric vehicle battery technology promises a range of 750 km, an additional 480 km with a 10-minute charge, and a lifespan of up to 1 million km.
CATL and a major step forward in Europe
At the IAA Munich Motor Show, CATL (China), the world's largest battery manufacturer, unveiled its new electric vehicle battery technology called Shenxing Pro, specifically for the European market.
This move demonstrates the strong determination of Chinese businesses to expand their market share and compete directly with established names like Volkswagen and Porsche.
CATL introduces two versions of LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) batteries, aimed at addressing the biggest concerns of European users: driving range and charging speed.
Long-lasting battery, long range:With a capacity of 122 kWh, it offers a range of up to 470 miles (750 km) according to WLTP standards. CATL guarantees only a 9% reduction in capacity after 200,000 km, and retains 70% of its capacity after 1 million km and 10,000 charging cycles.
High-speed charging battery:With a capacity of 110 kWh, it only takes 10 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%, equivalent to an additional 478 km WLTP range (approximately 230 miles according to the US EPA standard).
Practical use: Fast and efficient charging.
With a 122 kWh battery, a single 15-minute charge from 10–80% can add up to 85 kWh of energy, equivalent to the battery capacity of a current mid-size electric SUV.
Depending on the vehicle's fuel efficiency, the additional range can range from 170-250 miles (270-400 km). This is significantly better than most electric vehicles currently on the market.
One notable feature is the 'Wave' cell design – the battery cells are arranged directly like Lego blocks, skipping the step of assembling them into modules before joining them into a battery pack. This arrangement increases the density of active materials, improving capacity without affecting performance.
CATL announced a $12.9 billion investment in Europe, building battery manufacturing plants in Hungary, Germany, and Spain. The company aims to create a closed-loop ecosystem encompassing raw material production, battery manufacturing, remanufacturing, and recycling.
The emergence of Shenxing Pro electric vehicle battery technology opens up new expectations for the European automotive industry: longer range, faster charging, and superior durability.
While it will take time to prove itself in practice, it's clear that CATL is setting a new standard, forcing Western competitors to accelerate innovation if they don't want to fall behind.
