CATL Unveils Shenxing EV Batteries with Enhanced Fast Charging and Safety

On a cloudy evening in late April, a tech event hosted at Beijing’s National Convention Centre by Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) drew nearly 1,000 people eager for a glimpse of next-generation electric vehicle (EV) batteries that could reshape the global automotive landscape.

Gao Huan, chief technology officer for the auto business at CATL, the world’s largest producer of EV batteries, exuded confidence while promoting the new Shenxing product series.

With formations of electric current and heating effects projected on a giant screen, Gao sought to reassure his audience about how CATL designs and arranges cells to keep its battery packs safe and efficient.

Though more convenient, fast charging generates heat that can accelerate degradation in lithium-ion batteries, shortening their lifespan.

Gao explained how CATL’s technology isolated individual cells to prevent heat from spreading, saying the Shenxing series used independent sealed exhaust channels, allowing heat and electricity to exit the battery pack through separate paths.

“To accomplish product reliability, we have developed industry-leading testing methods and created a world-leading testing and verification centre,” Gao said. “In manufacturing, we make sure every single battery cell is made under extreme conditions in line with a stringent quality control system, with 7,000 quality checkpoints deployed along [each] product line.”