What if a battery manufacturer saves the gasoline engine!

By announcing batteries capable of providing 400 km of electric range to a hybrid car, CATL is shaking up established beliefs.

If battery electric vehicles are the cars of tomorrow, whether we like it or not, they are not yet the best solution for many drivers today. Range and charging time limit their use for high-mileage drivers, and many converts regret their purchase due to not having accurately identified their needs and the charging solutions available to them.

Buying a brand-new 100% gasoline vehicle is no longer a smart choice, as these engines are doomed and face heavy penalties from taxes. If you are one of those drivers for whom it is too soon to switch to electric, hybridization is your lifesaver for the coming years.

However, not everything is golden in the land of electrification. Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and range-extended electric vehicles (EREV) are becoming increasingly important in the new energy vehicle market, but customers are often frustrated by the electric side of the equation. Limited range, slow charging, and reduced performance in low temperatures can make the experience disappointing and make one long for fully gasoline-powered cars, but that is about to change.

A sensible alliance

Battery specialist CATL has looked into the issue and is presenting its Freevoy technology today. Designed specifically for EREV and PHEV hybrid vehicles, Freevoy can provide up to 400 km of range, which translates to a good week of home-work-school-sleep trips. Furthermore, it offers charging speeds comparable to the best products for 100% electric vehicles, with 280 kilometers of range recovered in just 10 minutes of fast charging.

With this, the gasoline component of the vehicle can be limited to emergency situations, such as very long journeys or the absence of charging stations. The electric motor has always been seen as supporting the gasoline engine, but this paradigm has shifted since the liter of gasoline now assists the kWh. And even if this isn’t a very virtuous argument, the hybrid still offers those nostalgic for the internal combustion engine a bit of the cyclical rhythms that beat in their hearts.

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