Accelerating Progress in Battery Technology Yields Improved Speed, Range, Cost-Effectiveness, and Safety
The world of automotive batteries is buzzing with excitement as two next-generation batteries, the CATL Shenxing Pro and the Rimac's Next-Gen solid-state battery pack, are making waves in the industry.
Let's start with the CATL Shenxing Pro battery. This innovative battery employs lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry and boasts a 90-5-5 percent ratio of nickel-manganese-cobalt, coupled with a 100 percent silicon anode. The battery promises a remarkable range of 122 kWh of charge and aims to deliver 12 years and 1 million kilometers (621,371 miles) of service or 10,000 charge-discharge cycles, retaining 70 percent of its capacity when new.
One of the standout features of the CATL Shenxing Pro battery is its ability to retain 95 percent of its capability at -4 degrees F (-20 C), eliminating the need for winter heating. Additionally, the battery is designed to prevent fire or smoke propagation during thermal runaway and retains the ability to deliver power during such an event.
The CATL Shenxing Pro battery was unveiled at CATL's April tech day and is designed and built in Europe, targeting Europe's fleet leasing market. It also promises 10-80 percent charging in just 15 minutes, a significant improvement over traditional batteries.
On the other hand, Rimac's Next-Gen battery is a solid-state battery pack packaged as a pouch in a cell-to-pack format. The improvements in power and energy density with the lighter Next-Gen battery are commensurate. The battery can discharge at 850 kW, which is higher than the current Evolution battery. It charges faster too, from 10 to 80 percent in 6.5 minutes, compared to 16 minutes for the Evolution battery.
The fourth-generation electrolyte used in the new solid-state cells is called SF-Ceramion. Rimac Technology has signed a memorandum of understanding with ProLogium, an energy innovation company specializing in research, development, and manufacturing of lithium-ceramic solid-state batteries, to further develop ProLogium's 'Superfluidized all-inorganic solid-state lithium ceramic battery.'
ProLogium, based in Taiwan, has been producing cells in a factory in Taiwan since 2024 and plans to open another production site in France by 2028. The housing for the Next-Gen battery is thermoplastic, and it has a mass of 847 pounds, which is 189 lighter than the Evo.
The CATL Freevoy battery, another intriguing proposal from CATL, proposes separate zones for different chemistries, allowing for separate cooling systems, battery management systems, high versus low voltage, dual thermal-runaway/safety systems, and two internal structures. However, its realization remains uncertain.
In conclusion, the next generation of batteries promises significant improvements in power, energy density, and safety. Both the CATL Shenxing Pro and Rimac's Next-Gen batteries are exciting developments that could revolutionize the automotive industry.
