CATL does not stop innovation in the development of batteries for electric cars, and this time has surprised with the premiere of Shenxing Plus. According to the Chinese company, it is the first lithium-ferrophosphate (LFP) battery in the world to offer 4C ultra-fast charging and up to 1,000 kilometers of autonomy.
The manufacturer indicates that this new battery has an energy density of 205 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). CATL explains that this matches it in that section with those made of nickel, cobalt and manganese, but without making them more expensive.
The improvement has been possible thanks to a 3D honeycomb-shaped material that optimizes the energy density of the anode and controls the expansion of the charge and discharge volume. The company also states that as it is a structural battery developed under CTB 3.0 technology, volume efficiency is increased by 7%.
The most impressive thing about CATL’s Shenxing Plus battery is that the 4C ultra-fast charging allows you recover 1 kilometer per second recharge. This means that 600 kilometers of autonomy can be obtained by simply connecting the electric car to the charger for 10 minutes. This is a drastic improvement compared to the Shenxing SuperFast battery, which promised 400 km in 10 minutes of charging.
Regarding total autonomy, CATL mentions that its new LFP battery reaches 1,000 kilometers. It is a number that impacts at first glance, but it should be taken with a grain of salt. This is because this figure is measured under the CLTC cycle used in China, which provides unrealistic – or overly optimistic – results compared to what can be obtained under the WLTP or EPA cycles.
CATL’s new LFP battery promises ultra-fast charging even in icy conditions
Another fact about CATL’s Shenxing Plus battery is that ultra-fast charging promises to work even in extreme weather conditions, up to -20° C. According to the manufacturer, charging efficiency has been increased by up to 50% by operating under this temperature when the battery’s state of charge is low.
The Chinese firm indicates that its new LFP battery uses a management system powered by artificial intelligence and a “high-voltage box with ultra-high cooling efficiency” to ensure its safe operation.
For now, CATL has not mentioned which automakers will be the first to use its new Shenxing Plus battery. Although it would not be strange if there is news about it in the coming months.
But the news during the presentation did not end there. CATL also announced the creation of the Shenxing ultra-fast charger network, which will be the largest of its kind in China. To achieve this, the battery manufacturer has teamed up with Huawei, YKC, Star Charge and Shudao New Energy, among others.
CATL also aims to create a club of Shenxing ultra-fast charging electric car owners. It will operate in 271 cities in China and provide maintenance, inspection and other services, including road rescue in the event of a breakdown.
