CATL 1000km range LFP battery revealed

Chinese EV battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) has unveiled a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with more than 1000km range.

The Shenxing Plus is the world’s first LFP battery with such a range, says Reuters, adding the launch was at Auto China 2024.

LFP batteries are environmentally friendlier than the lithium-ion batteries more commonly used in EVs, it says.

Four car models use the current-generation Shenxing battery with its 700km range, and more than 50 additional models will be equipped with it by year-end, says CATL e-car division chief technology officer Gao Huan.

The world’s largest EV battery maker saw profit swing to growth in January-March after three months earlier posting its first quarterly profit fall since 2022 amid slowing demand and intensified competition, says Reuters.

“Chinese battery makers including CATL grew faster than rivals to account for more than two-thirds of global EV battery capacity last year, showed data from consultancy Counterpoint Research.

“In March, CATL’s chairman said the manufacturer is in discussions to establish research and development centres in Hong Kong to underpin technology exports.”

CATLand Beijing Hyundai have meanwhile signed a strategic partnership agreement at Auto China 2024 to cooperate on Beijing Hyundai’s EV projects and to power future Beijing Hyundai electric models with CATL batteries.

Beijing Hyundai is expected to establish 10 global models with CATL’s latest battery technology.