With energy density as high as 500Wh/kg, CATL condensed matter batteries are coming

As the world's leader in power batteries, every move of CATL will attract industry attention. This is especially true for battery technology innovation.

On April 19, CATL held a condensed matter battery conference in Shanghai and officially released the condensed matter battery (Condensed Battery). The single energy density is as high as 500Wh/kg. It has both high energy density and high safety characteristics, and its passenger Condensed matter batteries for vehicles will be capable of mass production this year.

Wu Kai, chief scientist of CATL, introduced on the spot that in response to the electrochemical reaction changes of ultra-high specific energy chemical materials, condensed matter batteries adopt innovative technologies such as high-power bionic condensed matter electrolytes, high-energy-density cathode materials, new negative electrodes, and isolation membranes. And carried out production process innovation. However, he did not further introduce the relevant technology at the press conference.

It is reported that condensed matter batteries can also solve the problem of slow charging from the source. Condensed matter batteries can build a micron-level adaptive network structure and adjust the interaction force between chains. While enhancing the stability of the microstructure, it can also further improve the dynamic performance of the battery and improve the transport efficiency of lithium ions, making condensed matter batteries While having high safety performance, it also has excellent charging and discharging capabilities.

Battery China learned from the information released on site that CATL condensed matter batteries may have various forms such as soft packs and squares.

Regarding condensed matter batteries, Wu Kai described: This is the company’s latest achievement in material and material system innovation, and it is a milestone product that will start the next round of innovation in the CATL era. Condensed matter batteries have high safety, strong reliability, and cycle life. With its long-lasting characteristics, the battery can be mass-produced quickly, and automotive-grade products can be mass-produced this year. However, CATL did not disclose the energy density of the condensed matter batteries that may be mass-produced this year in the electric vehicle market.

Wu Kai said that in addition to being applied to the field of electric vehicles, condensed matter batteries are also targeting the electric aviation market (condensed matter aviation batteries). "CATL is currently cooperating in the development of civil electric manned aircraft projects, implementing aviation-grade standards and testing, and meeting Aviation-grade safety and quality requirements.”

In August last year, Zeng Yuqun, chairman of CATL, revealed that it planned to launch condensed matter batteries in 2023.

According to reports, the electrolyte of the CATL condensed matter battery is different from the electrolyte of ordinary liquid lithium-ion batteries in a completely 100% liquid state, but a semi-solid colloid state. This allows the condensed matter battery to complete both The conduction of lithium ions in the positive and negative electrodes also reduces the fluidity due to the viscosity of the electrolyte itself, which can improve the overall safety performance of the power battery and avoid the huge risk of thermal runaway of traditional liquid lithium-ion batteries.

Based on high safety, condensed matter batteries can use high-energy products such as high-energy-density cathode materials, new anodes, and separators in batches, thereby significantly improving the energy density of the cell compared to existing liquid batteries. As the energy density continues to exceed 300Wh/kg and 350Wh/kg, vehicle endurance will also be significantly improved under the same battery pack size. In the future, new energy vehicles with a driving range of more than 1,000 kilometers may become the norm (Note: At this stage, Ningde is included Many companies, including Times, Yiwei Lithium Energy, Honeycomb Energy, Funeng Technology, Ruipu Lanjun, Xinwangda, Guoxuan High-Tech, etc., have released battery products based on cell + system innovation that can meet the 1,000-kilometer range).

Compared with all-solid-state batteries, condensed-state batteries can also become semi-solid-state batteries, which can be mass-produced faster, have high energy density and high safety features, and have many performance improvements compared to existing liquid batteries. It is expected to become a battery in the next few years One of the main forms of technological competition.

In fact, in addition to CATL releasing condensed matter battery technology and announcing mass production capabilities. At this auto show, many companies such as Honeycomb Energy, Gateway Power, Ruipu Lanjun, and Sunwanda announced their semi-solid battery technology and product development progress. In addition, battery companies including Guoxuan High-Tech, Yiwei Lithium Energy, Funeng Technology, Ganfeng Lithium Battery, Tailan New Energy and other battery companies have also made industrial progress in the research and development of semi-solid-state batteries.

In addition to releasing condensed matter batteries, at this Shanghai Auto Show, CATL also exhibited products such as Kirin batteries and sodium-ion batteries, as well as AB hybrid battery systems and CATL battery swap stations.

Among them, AB hybrid battery technology can achieve a mix of sodium and lithium, helping sodium-ion batteries reach 500 kilometers; a mix of lithium iron phosphate and ternary batteries can solve the problem of lithium iron phosphate batteries working in low-temperature environments.

It is worth mentioning that the Jikrypton 009 model equipped with Kirin batteries from CATL was also officially delivered during the auto show, becoming the first global mass-produced model with Kirin batteries. At the same time, Li Auto announced that the company's first pure electric vehicle will become the world's first mass-produced model equipped with 4C Kirin batteries.

During the auto show, CATL also released the largest carbon neutrality plan in the lithium battery industry.

CATL stated that the company will achieve carbon neutrality in core operations by 2025 and carbon neutrality in the value chain by 2035. This means that by 2025, all battery factories of CATL will become zero-carbon factories, taking the lead in achieving carbon neutrality in the production and manufacturing field.

According to Battery China, in order to achieve a zero-carbon strategy, CATL will use four major innovation systems to achieve technological carbon reduction at five key nodes: mining, bulk raw materials, battery materials, battery cell manufacturing, and battery systems. At the same time, CATL has extensively carried out the CREDIT project in the supply chain. CREDIT is CATL's innovative sustainable development transparency audit tool, which includes five modules: sustainable development management mechanism, business ethics, environmental protection, labor practices, and responsible procurement. CATL hopes to use this tool to help supply chain partners strengthen their awareness of sustainable development and explore their potential and paths for sustainable development.

At this auto show, CATL also showed the details of the battery passport. The battery passport is a digital twin of the physical battery and records many contents including battery information, raw material information, ESG evaluation, supply chain data, etc. In the future, by scanning the QR code of the Battery Passport, consumers will be able to view various battery information. The Battery Passport provides the necessary data support for consumers to choose green, low-carbon, and responsible batteries.

It is reported that CATL’s Yibin base has been built as the industry’s first zero-carbon battery factory in 2021 and will complete carbon neutral certification in 2022.