Chinese energy technology company CATL has introduced a new battery for electric vehicles (EVs) that can be charged almost as quickly as filling up a gasoline car.
The latest generation “Shenxing” lithium-iron-phosphate battery can charge from 10% to 98% in just 6 minutes and 27 seconds. A more common charge from 10% to 80% takes only 3 minutes and 44 seconds. In fact, in just one minute, the battery can reach up to 35% charge.
These figures surpass the previous record set by fellow Chinese manufacturer BYD, which had achieved around 9 minutes for a full charge.
CATL, the world's largest EV battery company, says the technology works even in extreme temperatures: at -30°C the battery can still be charged from 10% to 98% in about 9 minutes.
According to founder and CEO Robin Zeng, the limits of battery technology have not yet been reached: “The possibilities of materials science are much greater than we think.”
The secret to the new speed lies in reducing the electrical resistance inside the battery, which allows for more efficient energy transfer. CATL says this battery has the lowest resistance on the market – less than half the industry average.
Also, the battery maintains charging speed even when approaching 100%, unlike most current models that slow down after 80%.
Another innovation is the interior heating system for use in cold weather, a known problem for electric vehicles.
At the same presentation, CATL also unveiled other experimental batteries, including a model that could offer up to 612 miles (about 985 km) of autonomy and an even more ambitious concept with up to 932 miles (about 1.500 km), intended for luxury models or special applications.
However, experts remind us that battery production also has environmental costs, especially due to the extraction of lithium and rare earth minerals. In some cases, initial pollution can be higher than that of gasoline cars in the first years of use, but then electric vehicles turn out to be significantly cleaner over their lifetime.
Despite the debate, CATL aims for a diverse technological approach to the market – from small urban cars to heavy long-distance vehicles – with the goal of making electric technology accessible to as many people as possible. /GazetaExpress/
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