Zeekr has unveiled its pioneering in-house developed battery, the Golden Battery, positioning itself as the first among China’s new car manufacturers to achieve this significant feat.
The Golden Battery, based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry—similar to BYD’s renowned Blade Battery—was revealed at a launch event today. Currently in mass production, it is set to debut in the Zeekr 007, which is slated to go on sale on December 27, with deliveries commencing on January 1.
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What sets the Golden Battery apart is its distinction as the world’s first mass-produced 800 V LFP ultra-fast charging battery, boasting a remarkable volume utilization rate of 83.7 percent. This surpasses industry standards, with regular LFP batteries standing at 66 percent and Li-ion ternary batteries just exceeding 72 percent, according to Zeekr.
Equipped with 800 V technology, the Golden Battery demonstrates a maximum charge multiplier of 4.5C and a maximum charge power of 500 kW. Zeekr claims that vehicles with this battery can achieve a range increase of over 500 km in just 15 minutes of charging, making it the fastest mass-produced LFP battery globally in terms of charging speed.
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Key specifications of the Golden Battery surpass those of previously released batteries by the Chinese power battery giant CATL, marking a significant advancement in the electric vehicle battery landscape.
Aside from performance, safety is a paramount feature of the Golden Battery. Zeekr asserts that the cells do not catch fire or explode even under extreme conditions such as crushing and pinpricks in a fully charged state. The battery withstood a 240-second sustained fire in a 700°C fire test, exceeding the Chinese national standard of 130 seconds.
In addition to its outstanding performance and safety features, the Golden Battery maintains a cost advantage. Zeekr has achieved this by optimizing battery pack structures, implementing production line intelligence, and more, resulting in a productivity increase of over 40 percent. Compared to lithium ternary batteries with similar performance, the Golden Battery’s combined cost per Wh is 14.8 percent lower, according to the company.
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The development of the Golden Battery spanned three years, involving a dedicated team of 1,000 R&D engineers. The batteries are manufactured at Zeekr’s parent company Geely Holding Group’s battery plant in Zhejiang province, where 18 key processes are fully automated.
In a strategic move, Zeekr also announced plans to build supercharging stations, aiming for over 1,000 stations by the end of 2024 and more than 10,000 supercharging piles by the end of 2026, reinforcing its commitment to advancing the electric vehicle infrastructure.