Shanghai is responsible for proving that we are losing time with fast-charging tech, as Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL), the world’s largest EV battery manufacturer, has considered a new charging possibility for electric vehicles. During“Super Tech Day” in Shanghai, the battery company gave everyone a peek at their Shenxing battery set to deliver 320 miles of range within merely five minutes of charging.
Using less time and losing less time with the Shenxing battery
While 2,5 kilometers of range on offer per second may sound like a mistake, this isn’t the case. The astonishing figure is only possible as the Shenxing battery addresses the main barrier to mass EV adoption, the slower charging time. The Shexing battery performs even better than Tesla’s fastest charger and the electric CLA caps by Mercedes-Benz. Tesla’s fastest charger results in 320 kilometers of range with 15 minutes of charge, and CLA caps by Mercedes-Benz result in 325 kilometers with 10 minutes of charge.
The announcement by CATL has come in alongside BYD’s latest reveal of its electric vehicle charging system that enables 470 kilometers in five minutes. With BYD being possibly the biggest rival for CATL, it is clear that CATL’s superior range and advanced battery may very well be the future of electric vehicle charging.
Ensuring speed by engineering according to the science behind the speed
Performance at such a peak level is only because the engineers behind the scenes rethought the battery’s chemistry and design. This Shenxing 2,0 battery utilizes lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry that is at its peak for energy density and thermal control that ensures it is the fastest battery yet.
Other engineering innovations that were considered to achieve such a maximum charging speed were:
- The use of super-crystalline graphite anodes with sub-micron conductive particles ensures quicker lithium-ion movement.
- Utilizing an intelligent electrolyte line that makes use of nanoscale transport technology to optimize ion mobility.
- Employing carbon-coated, nano-conductive cathodes to lower internal resistance and improve thermal stability.
According to the demonstrations, in 30 seconds, the battery would allow for 75 kilometers of range. Without sophisticated engineering, this figure may not have been possible.
Sodium-ion possesses revolutionary results beyond lithium’s offering
CATL is not promising a battery that delivers on faster charging ability only, but it is claiming that its Shenxing battery can keep its performance across the harshest of temperatures. At -10°C, the battery will still be able to charge from 5% to 80% in just 15 minutes. The battery is clearly suitable for all climate types.
However, what really stands out is the fact that CATL is not placing all bets on lithium. Said to be mass-produced in December, CATL is also introducing its first sodium-ion battery called Naxtra. The sodium-ion battery is designed for hybrids and EVs. While the Shenxing focused on lithium-ion, CATL has found that sodium can be found more abundantly than lithium. The findings also revealed that sodium-ion performs better under lower temperatures. With the cost of mining lithium being ridiculously high, the move towards sodium-ion is a strategic move towards a cleaner and stable alternative.
While sodium surely is on the cards, CATL provided hints that a hybrid battery system may be considered that amalgamates lithium-ion and sodium-ion to ensure optimal performance in terms of long distance and working well in all weather conditions. CATL is at the forefront of revolutionizing what batteries for EVs and hybrids of the near future could be like, and perhaps states that EVs won’t be disappearing anymore.
An EV landscape is being redesigned to end waiting for EVs to charge
CATL is offering a five-minute charging option that could make EVs become more widely adopted vehicles. Range anxiety associated with driving EVs may be eliminated. However, many EV automakers will have to consider being at the same pace as CATL.
Already, the Shenxing battery will be used in more than 67 EV models during the year, and the company is rather confident about the rollout. However, Chinese tech dominance and geopolitical tensions remain a challenge for CATL. Nevertheless, CATL is certain that its team of engineers has come up with a solution that requires us to no longer wait for EVs to charge.
