Batteries are at the heart of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The ability to deliver on the range the public want from their vehicle continues to drive some remarkable technological research and development, and at Auto Shanghai, one of the world’s leading EV battery suppliers announced a potentially game-changer of a battery.

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) revealed a battery with a density of up to 500Wh/kg (500 Watt-hour per kilogram). That’s considerably more than most current battery set-ups which can deliver up to the 300Wh/kg mark.

What does this mean? It means there is now potential for vehicles with serious range or, alternatively, vehicles with lighter battery packs than currently available but which deliver just as much range.

CATL says that ‘ . . . the condensed battery leverages highly conductive biomimetic condensed state electrolytes to construct a micron-level self-adaptive net structure that can adjust the interactive forces among the chains, thus improving the conductive performance of the cells and in turn the efficiency of lithium ion transporting while boosting stability of the microstructure.

‘What is more, condensed battery integrates a range of innovative technologies, including the ultra-high energy density cathode materials, innovative anode materials, separators, and manufacturing processes, offering excellent charge and discharge performance as well as good safety performance.’

That all sounds pretty technical and more details on composition will emerge, but CATL is confident enough that the company is pitching the technology as being able to advance electric flight, is cooperating with partners in the development of electric passenger aircraft and is ‘practicing aviation-level standards and testing in accordance with aviation-grade safety and quality requirements.’

An automotive-grade version of the condensed battery is, CATL says, expected to be put into mass production within this year.

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (May 2023)

22 May 2023