According to local media outlet The Paper, Chinese power battery giant CATL has achieved mass production of its Qilin Battery. The battery is a stepping stone for the manufacturer, outperforming the latest 4680 generation packs from Tesla and promising ranges up to 1 000 kilometers. The pack will debut at Volvo’s sister brand Zeekr.

As the largest battery manufacturer in the world, the Qilin version is a spearhead for CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd), which feels the turbulence of domestic rival BYD charging in the race for the top spot in cell production.

The revolution of the pack is not in the chemistry but in the structure, which is third-generation cell-to-pack technology without modules and additional wiring. The name Qilin refers to a powerful Chinese mythological beast.

No lack of interest

Specific production numbers remain disclosed, but there’s no lack of interest. Zeekr offers a choice between the 140 kWh Qilin pack and a 116 kWh pack from CATL in its oversized MPV 009. The Chinese brand reports that customer demand for the first was ‘beyond expectations.’ So CATL might already be in a pressured situation to ramp up output.

Apart from Zeekr, only Seres has been confirmed as a customer. The Chinese carmaker will install them in the model range from AITO, its premium subsidiary, which it launched in 2021 with solid backing from Huawei.

Other domestic brands that have uttered an interest are Li Auto, Neta, and Xiaomi Auto. The only global brand so far on the customer list is Lotus, like Zeekr, owned by Chinese giant Geely.

Fast-charging in 10 minutes

Time Magazine awarded Qilin as Best Invention 2022. This latest generation cell-to-pack matrix’s key features are that it allows for a volume utilization exceeding 72 percent and energy density reaching 255 Wh/kg. This means that vehicles powered by this pack can achieve a range of 1 000 km, easily outperforming the best EVs currently on the market.

The pack also confirms China as a technology leader in this field. Compared to the 4680 batteries from Tesla, Qilin delivers 13 percent more power with the same chemistry and size. This results in overall improvements in range, charging, safety, life, efficiency, and low-temperature performance. Another advantage is its “disruptive” cooling technique, which separates the cells with multifunctional slots that can cool or heat them.

This design allows for faster charging times, with the battery pack capable of charging DC in 10 minutes! A breakthrough, though in the typical communication haze from CATL, peak charging power remains unmentioned. As Chinese car giant Geely owns Volvo, it might be the first Western-rooted car maker to benefit from the technology.