The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is causing a stir with a new generation of batteries: The so-called 5C batteries should retain at least 80 percent of their capacity even with regular fast charging.
The core message of CATL is clear: Ultra-fast charging will no longer have to come at the expense of battery life in the future. The world market leader there in a short presentation video the durability of its new battery with around 3,000 charging cycles at an ambient temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius. The calculation is based on an assumed range of 600 kilometers per charge, which corresponds to an impressive mileage of around 1.8 million kilometers. Also the industry portals Electrive and InsideEVs reported.
What is particularly remarkable, however, is its performance under extreme conditions. Even at high temperatures, which CATL compares to a “Dubai summer”, the battery should retain its robustness. According to the manufacturer, around 1,400 charging cycles are still possible at around 60 degrees Celsius, which corresponds to a mileage of around 840,000 kilometers before the battery capacity drops below 80 percent. This would mean that the battery would lose its status as a potential weak point in the vehicle, even with frequent quick charging and high thermal load.
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Technical innovations in cell chemistry and battery construction
To achieve this long service life, CATL combines several technical innovations in cell chemistry and battery construction. A particularly dense and uniform coating on the cathodes is intended to reduce material degradation and thus slow down the aging of the cells. In addition, a special additive is added to the liquid electrolyte, which is intended to “repair” microscopic cracks in the electrode structures and limit the loss of lithium ions. The aim is to minimize harmful side reactions inside the cell and to significantly reduce the loss of capacity over time.
In addition, there are temperature-reactive substances that are applied directly to the surface of the separators of each individual cell. They are intended to stabilize the cells even at strongly fluctuating or high temperatures and to cushion thermal stress. The overall concept is rounded off by a further developed battery management system: This directs the coolant specifically to those areas of the battery pack that heat up particularly strongly. This is intended to avoid hotspots that could otherwise lead to accelerated aging or, in extreme cases, damage.
5C charging rate is crucial
The 5C charging rate is particularly important for everyday use. The so-called C number describes the relationship between battery capacity and charging power and thus indicates how quickly a battery can theoretically be charged. To put it simply, a battery can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in about an hour at a charging rate of 1C – under ideal conditions. With 5C this time is reduced to around twelve minutes. Provided, of course, that the appropriate charging infrastructure is available and the vehicle can actually access the power.
An example illustrates the magnitude: a battery with a capacity of 80 kilowatt hours could be charged with up to 400 kilowatts at a 5C charging rate. The manufacturer has not yet provided any specific information about the capacity of the new CATL battery, but one thing is clear: it belongs to the class of ultra-fast charging batteries and should achieve an exceptionally long service life even with regular charging at very high levels.
A robust battery would have noticeably positive effects
A battery with this robustness would have a noticeable impact on the used car market. To date, electric cars have often achieved higher prices if it can be proven that they were rarely or not charged at all using a DC fast charger, as frequent fast charging is considered to be a key driver of battery aging. A battery that still has at least 80 percent of its capacity even after well over a million kilometers could significantly put this risk into perspective and permanently change the evaluation of used electric vehicles.
CATL has not yet announced a start date for series production
At the same time, however, central questions remain unanswered. CATL does not name a specific start date for series production or vehicle models in which the new 5C battery will be used for the first time. It is also unclear how the cells will perform under real operating conditions. Driving profiles, climate zones, charging habits and the actual fast charging performance available in everyday life often differ significantly from idealized test conditions. The manufacturer’s statement that the battery is “six times better than the industry average” also remains difficult to categorize without publicly verifiable comparative data.
It therefore remains to be seen whether and when the 5C batteries will actually arrive in series models. Until then, it is still worth taking a closer look at the details of new electric vehicles: which charging curves are specified, how the battery guarantee is designed, and what information the manufacturer gives on how to use fast chargers.
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