China’s CATL reveals 621-mile EV battery, under-7-minute charging to challenge BYD

China’s CATL on Tuesday introduced a new set of electric vehicle battery technologies, including a lighter battery pack rated for a 1,000-km (621-mile) driving range and an upgraded fast-charging battery that can go from 10 percent to 98 percent in under seven minutes. The launches were made during a 90-minute event in Beijing ahead of the Beijing Auto Show, where automakers are expected to showcase next-generation EVs and connected technologies. CATL said its latest Qilin battery — a high-energy-density pack often paired with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells for long range and improved space efficiency — can deliver a 1,000-km (621-mile) driving range. It is designed to deliver long range while reducing battery pack weight. The company said the product is aimed at automakers facing tighter efficiency rules in China and other markets. It also rolled out an upgraded Shenxing battery — CATL’s fast-charging lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack,—that targets one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption: charging time. CATL said the pack can recharge from 10 percent to 98 percent in less than seven minutes. Faster charging push The new Shenxing battery marks a significant improvement over CATL’s previous version, which charged from 5 percent to 80 percent in 15 minutes, according to Financial Times. The move also sharpens CATL’s competition with domestic rival BYD, whose latest Blade battery reportedly charges from 10 percent to 97 percent in about nine minutes. CATL and BYD together control more than half of the global EV battery market, making their technology race important for automakers worldwide seeking lower costs, faster charging, and longer range. The company also announced plans to begin mass delivery of sodium-ion batteries in the fourth quarter. Sodium-ion technology is seen as a lower-cost alternative that could reduce dependence on lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Robin Zeng, CATL chairman, said the batteries could offer a “resource-resilient option for future l…