CATL Qilin Batteries: 1000 km per Charge in 2023

The leader in battery technology for electric vehicles, CATL, has detailed the new generation Qilin capable of 1000 km of range.

In battery design, it was generally accepted that cells would be assembled into modules, which would then be installed to form the final pack. But a new ‘cell-to-pack’ or CTP design directly incorporates cells into the battery structure. CATL initiated this shift in 2019, with the first generation. Thanks to this process, the Chinese company claimed an utilization volume of 55%, an excellent level in the industry.

Are CATL Qilin batteries better than Tesla?

Now, CATL reveals more about the third generation CTP 3.0, which it names Qilin. Still focusing on utilization volume, the company states it reaches 72%. This would be even better than the new benchmark, Tesla’s 4680 cell batteries at only 63%. To achieve this, the manufacturer has abandoned the traditional three-part structure (metal beams, single cooling plate, and thermal insulator).

They merged everything into flat cells—rather than cylindrical ones—separated by elastic walls. These walls would support cell swelling, and “increase the reliability” of the batteries.

Next to these walls, cooling panels quadruple the thermal dissipation surface, replacing a traditional plate under the battery. This method would enable a hot start in 5 minutes and rapid charging at high power for 10 minutes.

1000 km of range in 2023

After these technical details, what should we remember? That energy density is much higher at the same volume. CATL reports 255 Wh/kg, which would be enough to provide 1000 km for a large battery (70 kWh or about 400 kg).

This applies to high-end batteries like NMC (nickel manganese cobalt), versus about 160 Wh/kg for cheaper LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries. CATL claims faster recharging, without specifying power figures.

These new CATL Qilin batteries will be manufactured in 2023 in China. However, the company has not specified who its first customers or vehicles for these batteries will be.

Also read: Can electric vehicle batteries be recycled?