On June 23, Chinese company CATL announced that it will begin production of its third generation battery line with superior energy efficiency.
CATL's new generation battery line, called Qilin (Unicorn), will have an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg and achieve a record mass utilization efficiency of 72%, easily providing a vehicle operating range of more than 1,000 km on a single charge.
The Qilin battery offers 13% more energy than Panasonic's 4680 battery despite having the same chemistry and same pack size.
A liquid cooling pad and heat sink are integrated into the multifunctional elastic interlayer inside the battery. At the same time, micrometer-sized bridges are also installed in the interlayer. This allows for flexible adjustment of changes within the battery cell, thereby improving the reliability of the battery throughout its entire life cycle.
The battery's integrated power pack forms a more stable load-bearing structure, enhancing the battery pack's shock and vibration resistance.
The Qilin battery's various components including structural protection, high-voltage connections, and a cleverly arranged heat dissipation vent add 6% to the battery capacity.
The liquid cooling element placed between adjacent cells and large surface cell cooling technology increase the battery's heat transfer area by four times, halve the heat control time, support hot start in 5 minutes and fast charging in 10 minutes.
This new generation of batteries has achieved thermal stability and safety for all chemical systems. This makes it compatible with materials with higher energy density.
Qilin batteries are expected to enter mass production and go on sale in 2023.
CATL emphasized that the company has always focused on technological innovation to promote the development of electric vehicles instead of fossil fuels.