Major EV battery supplier starts mass production of 1000km range battery

24 Mar 2023, 12:01 am

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Henry Man

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Snapshot

CATL reportedly starts Qilin battery mass production
Offers up to 1000km claimed driving range using 4680 cells
Debuting on Zeekr 009 people-mover, but only 001 liftback will achieve long range

The world’s top electric vehicle battery supplier has started producing a new battery pack – touting up to 1000 kilometres of driving range.

According to Chinese media outlet The Paper, Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) has begun mass production of its Qilin battery pack, which was unveiled mid-last year.

To achieve its diesel-like driving range capability, it adopts 4680 cylindrical design cells that have a higher 255Wh/kg energy density for lithium-ion or 160Wh/kg for lithium ferro-phosphate, and 72 per cent internal volume utilisation efficiency.

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CATL also claims a 50 per cent improvement in thermal efficiency, can deliver 13 per cent more power than conventional packs, and 10-minute ultra rapid charging from 10 to 80 per cent capability.

The first production EV model to debut the Qilin battery will be Geely’s Zeekr 009 luxury people-mover. Rumours have even suggested Volvo Cars will launch a related counterpart in China.

It will be followed by the Zeekr 001 large liftback – which promises the landmark 1000 kilometre driving range thanks in part to its sleeker aerodynamic shape.

Tesla already adopts the 4680 cell design that forms the structure for a base Model Y all-wheel-drive variant produced in Texas, but isn’t in mass production yet.

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Meanwhile, Chinese conglomerate Build Your Dreams (BYD) is implementing its proprietary Blade Battery in its EVs, which is a structural pack made out of thin slats that the firm claims can increase its internal space efficiency by more than 50 per cent, and is more durable and safe than conventional lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) packs.

A recent Deloitte survey found that while interest is increasing in EVs, driving range, charging and price are still key barriers in adoption in Australia.

That’s despite statistics suggesting many Australians – especially those who commute in metro areas – can comfortably drive with the EV range capabilities on offer today and select petrol-engined models are on par or pricier than electric models.

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