CATL’s Aerospace-Ready Battery Has Energy Density to 500 Wh/kg

On April 19 at Auto Shanghai, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) announced Condensed Battery, its new ultra-energy-dense battery technology, saying that the battery has an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg. According to a CATL news release,“[The battery] can achieve high energy density and a high level of safety at the same time in a creative manner, opening up a brand-new electrification scenario for passenger aircraft,”

The energy density achievement isn’t restricted to a research lab prototype, either: The company said that it can start mass-producing the battery in a short period of time.

Self-adaptive net structure ‘adjusts’ chemical reactions

To address the changes of the super high energy density materials resulting from electrochemical reactions, the battery leverages highly conductive biomimetic condensed state electrolytes to construct a micron-level self-adaptive net structure that can adjust the interactive forces among the chains,  thus improving the conductive performance of the cells and in turn the efficiency of lithium-ion transporting while boosting stability of the microstructure.

The battery integrates a range of innovative technologies, including ultra-high energy density cathode materials, innovative anode materials, separators, and manufacturing processes, offering excellent charge and discharge performance as well as good safety performance.

The sky’s the limit for electrification

The launch of this technology breaks the limits that have long restricted the development of the battery sector and will open up a new scenario of electrification centering on a high level of safety and light weight. CATL is currently cooperating with partners in the development of electric passenger aircraft and practicing aviation-level standards and testing in accordance with aviation-grade safety and quality requirements. In addition, it will launch an automotive-grade version of the Condensed Battery, which is expected to be put into mass production this year.

Currently, CATL has the world's most extensive technology roadmap for batteries and has developed the capability to turn fundamental research into industrial applications, and then into large-scale commercial applications. For example, in 2021, CATL rolled out the first generation of sodium-ion battery with an energy density of 160 Wh/kg. In 2022, CATL unveiled the Qilin battery, with the highest integration efficiency in the world, and which started mass production in March.

As electrification extends from the land to the sky, aircraft will become cleaner and smarter. The launch of condensed batteries will usher in an era of universal electrification of sea, land, and air transportation, open up more possibilities of the development of the industry, and promote the achievement of the global carbon neutrality goals at an earlier date.