Chinese battery cell manufacturer Eve Energy has introduced a groundbreaking product called Omnicell, a large round cell with a 6C charge rate that promises to revolutionize electric vehicle (EV) charging. This announcement was made at the company’s first lithium battery conference, held in conjunction with its 23rd-anniversary celebration.
According to Zhao Ruirui, Senior Vice President of Eve Energy’s Central Research Institute, the Omnicell round cell is capable of supporting a charging rate of 6C, significantly faster than current EV batteries. This breakthrough could potentially provide electric vehicles with a range of 300 kilometers in just 5 minutes of charging.
While further details about the Omnicell are not yet available, the “C” in the 6C charging rate indicates the ratio of battery size to charging capacity. At 1C, an 80 kWh battery can be charged with a maximum of 80 kW. With 6C charging, the same battery could theoretically be charged at up to 480 kW.
Eve Energy’s progress in battery technology extends beyond the Omnicell. The company is also working on eVTOL batteries and solid-state batteries, with plans to introduce solid-state batteries by 2026.
The introduction of the Omnicell and Eve Energy’s advancements in battery technology come at a time when the demand for fast-charging EV batteries is growing rapidly. Several Chinese automakers, including Li Auto and Zeekr, are already offering vehicles with 5C batteries, and competitors like CATL and BYD are also reportedly working on 6C batteries.
Eve Energy’s expansion is not limited to China; the company is also building its first European plant in Hungary to supply BMW. The plant in Debrecen will produce large-volume round cells for BMW’s New Class, with an annual volume of up to 28 GWh.
In addition, Eve Energy has entered into a production agreement with Israeli battery specialist StoreDot, allowing StoreDot to use part of Eve’s production capacity for its extremely fast-charging battery cells. This partnership is expected to further accelerate the development and adoption of fast-charging battery technology in the EV market.
