Chinese power battery giant, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), has achieved mass production of its Qilin Battery. The Qilin Battery boasts a 13% higher capacity than 4680 batteries in the same volume, according to local media outlet, The Paper.
CATL officially unveiled its highly anticipated CTP (cell to pack) 3.0 Qilin Battery on June 23, 2022, which it claims brings battery system integration to a new level. With the same chemistry system and the same pack size, the Qilin Battery delivers 13% more power compared to 4680 batteries, achieving an overall improvement in range, fast charging, safety, life, efficiency, and low-temperature performance.
See also: CATL unveils new Qilin EV battery that capable delivering a range of 1,000 km
The Qilin Battery allows volume utilization to exceed 72%, and energy density to reach 255 Wh/kg, easily allowing vehicles to achieve a range of 1000 km, CATL said at the time. It is worth noting that the Qilin Battery is a CATL innovation in pack structure, not in battery chemistry. This means that both ternary batteries, as well as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, can use this pack structure. The Qilin Battery can achieve energy densities of 255Wh/kg with ternary cells and 160Wh/kg with LFP cells, CATL previously said.
The Zeekr 009 MPV, the world’s first vehicle to be powered by the Qilin Battery, is expected to begin deliveries in the second quarter of 2023, according to The Paper. CATL has partnered with Zeekr, Li Auto, Neta, Lotus, and AITO, among other vehicle brands, to supply the Qilin Battery.
“We were surprised by the high percentage of consumers who opted for the version with the Qilin Battery,” said a Zeekr source. The Zeekr 009 with the Qilin Battery is expected to achieve a range of 822 kilometers, setting a global record for a mid to large size MPV. The Zeekr 001 will use an ultra-long range version of the Qilin Battery, which will be the world’s first production vehicle to carry the 1000-km range Qilin Battery.
See also: 2023 Zeekr 001 comes with optional CATL’s Qilin Battery with a range of up to 1,032 km
CATL’s innovation has been named the best invention of 2022 by Time magazine in the US, according to information shared by the battery maker on Weibo on December 30 of last year. The Qilin Battery is a breakthrough in power storage technology, which promises to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry.
