CATL Unveils Record-Breaking EV Battery: 80% Charge in Under 4 Minutes, Works in Extreme Cold

Chinese battery giant CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited), the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, has unveiled a groundbreaking third-generation battery that can recharge an EV from 10% to 80% in just 3 minutes and 44 seconds.

This new Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery represents a major leap in EV technology, significantly narrowing the charging gap between electric and gas-powered vehicles. It also surpasses a recent innovation from Chinese EV leader BYD, which announced its Blade Battery 2.0 in March, capable of charging from 10% to 80% in 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

CATL’s Ultra-Fast Charging Breakthrough

At a Tech Day Event on April 21, CATL officially introduced its latest battery technology. The key charging milestones for the Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery include:

• 10% to 35% charge in 1 minute
• 10% to 80% charge in 3 minutes and 44 seconds
• 10% to 98% charge in 6 minutes and 27 seconds
• 20% to 98% charge in 9 minutes at -30°C (-22°F)

Performance in Extreme Cold

One of the most impressive features of CATL’s new battery is its ability to maintain ultra-fast charging speeds even in freezing temperatures. While many EV batteries lose efficiency in cold weather, the Shenxing battery can charge from 20% to 98% in approximately nine minutes at -30°C (-22°F).

For comparison, BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0 takes about 12 minutes to reach 97% charge at -20°C (-4°F).

LFP Technology and Industry Impact

Both CATL’s Shenxing and BYD’s Blade batteries are lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which do not contain nickel or cobalt. LFP batteries are widely used in Chinese EVs due to their lower cost, durability, and safety compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

Major American automakers are also adopting LFP technology. Ford Motor Company will incorporate an LFP battery in its upcoming midsized EV, while Tesla has used LFP batteries in some models—though it reduced their use in North America due to tariffs. Tesla sources LFP batteries from both CATL and BYD.

“This effectively closes the gap with [internal combustion engine] vehicles.” — Bernstein analysts, as reported by the Wall Street Journal

Market Response and Growth

CATL’s stock performance reflects strong investor confidence in its innovations. Over the past 12 months, Shenzhen-listed shares of CATL have surged by more than 89%, compared to a 53% increase for the Dow Jones U.S. Auto Manufacturers Index during the same period.

As China continues to dominate the global EV and battery markets, companies like CATL and BYD are driving rapid advancements in charging technology, making EVs more competitive with traditional gasoline vehicles.