Chinese manufacturer CATL announced today the development of a battery capable of allowing an electric vehicle to travel up to 1,500 kilometers on a single charge, intensifying competition with rival BYD.
The new version of the Qilin battery significantly exceeds the range of the previous generation, which reached about 1,000 kilometers, according to the company, which also presented improvements in charging speed.
CATL also revealed an update to the Shenxing battery, capable of charging from 10% to 98% in six and a half minutes, an improvement over the 15 minutes required in the previous version to charge from 5% to 80%.
The announced performance surpasses that of the latest Blade battery from fellow Chinese company BYD, presented in March, which needs about nine minutes to charge from 10% to 97%.
Read more: BYD profits fall 19% in 2025
The two Chinese companies, which together represent more than half of the global market for electric vehicle batteries, have intensified investment in research and development, with a focus on cell chemistry and manufacturing processes.
“The limit of electrochemistry is still far from being reached, and the possibilities of materials science are far from being exhausted,” stated CATL founder Robin Zeng Yuqun during a presentation in Beijing.
According to the company, the technological advances aim to address persistent consumer concerns, such as charging time, range on long trips, and performance in extreme temperature conditions.
The sharp reduction in battery costs, combined with rapid technological progress from companies like CATL and BYD, is also strengthening China’s dominant position in this strategic sector, which is essential for both electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Read more: China: BYD studies entering Formula 1 with its own team
CATL also announced plans to strengthen investment in charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, aligning itself with the goals of the Chinese government.
The company plans to build up to 100,000 charging and battery-swapping stations by 2028, in partnership with Chinese automakers, and better integrate these infrastructures into the country’s electrical system.
Among other initiatives, CATL indicated that it intends to start mass production of sodium-ion batteries in 2026, a technology that could reduce dependence on raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
The announcements were made ahead of the Beijing auto show, where approximately 1,400 new vehicle models are expected to be presented.
Read more: BYD sues U.S. over electric vehicle tariffs
Despite tensions between the United States and China and concerns about the Chinese economy, CATL has seen renewed investor interest, in a context where instability in the Middle East has reinforced growth prospects for demand for clean energy.
The company’s shares listed in Hong Kong have risen more than 40% since the beginning of the year and have accumulated an appreciation of nearly 140% in the last 12 months.
