CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, has announced the production of a new “condensed” battery with an energy density of 500 Wh/kg. The company claims that this battery breakthrough will revolutionize the electrification of sea, land, and air transportation, and will help achieve global carbon neutrality goals sooner. The new battery has almost double the energy intensity of Tesla’s 4680 cells, which are considered very high by current standards. The battery integrates a range of innovative technologies, including ultra-high energy density cathode materials, innovative anode materials, separators, and manufacturing processes. CATL is currently working with partners on the development of electric passenger aircraft, practicing aviation-level standards and testing in accordance with aviation-grade safety and quality requirements. The automotive-grade version of the battery will also go into mass production within this year. This announcement confirms and even exceeds Elon Musk’s prediction that batteries with an energy density of 400 Wh/kg would be commercially possible by 2023. What makes CATL’s announcement groundbreaking is that the condensed battery will go into mass production this year, unlike many other high-density battery breakthroughs that are still in their infancy.
Photo Credit: Claudio Schwarz