CATL to produce world’s fastest EV battery that offers 400km driving range with just 10 minutes of charging, to keep prices affordable for ‘ordinary consumers’

Hope more ‘ordinary consumers’ can ‘enjoy the dividends arising from technological innovations’, CATL’s chief scientist says

New batteries to have 4C charging capabilities, which means they can be fully charged in just 15 minutes

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EV batteries are displayed at the CATL headquarters in Ningde. The firm is a runaway leader in the EV battery industry worldwide. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 7:00am, 17 Aug 2023Updated: 10:50am, 27 Sep 2024

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co (CATL), the world’s largest such manufacturer, plans to start producing the world’s fastest-charging EV battery by the end of this year, in its latest efforts to accelerate the use of battery-powered cars.

The Shenxing Battery, which can offer a 400-kilometre driving range with just 10 minutes of charging, will be delivered to some carmakers in the first quarter of 2024, CATL said on Wednesday.

It said the new batteries will have 4C charging capabilities, which means they can be fully charged in just 15 minutes.

“We hope more ordinary consumers can access the latest [EV battery] technology, and enjoy the dividends arising from technological innovations,” Wu Kai, CATL’s chief scientist, told a press conference on Wednesday. CATL will make the battery affordable for a wider range of customers, rather than just a handful of wealthy EV owners, he added.

The Shenxing Battery launch is significant because a higher charging speed will help increase the use of battery-powered vehicles.

“Ultra-fast charging capability has been chased by many EV companies because many car buyers view it as a priority – saving [charging] time during a long journey,” said Tian Maowei, a sales manager at Yiyou Auto Service in Shanghai. “The battery will be in high demand when delivery starts.”