CATL unveils third-generation CTP battery technology

China’s battery giant CATL unveiled third-generation cell-to-pack (CTP) battery technology called Kirin or Qilindepending on the translation software you use.

Compared to traditional battery packs, CTP battery technology eliminates battery modules and additional wiring, making them easier, faster and cheaper to manufacture.

CATL says the weight, energy density and volumetric energy density of this battery technology “continue to remain among the highest in the industry”.

It will be available for passenger and commercial vehicle use.

According to Chinese media reports, this third-generation CTP battery technology CATL is ready for mass production and will be officially launched in April 2022.

The Chinese battery giant suggests that with the same battery chemistry and package size, third-generation CTP battery technology “can deliver 13% more power than [Tesla] Battery 4680″.

One of the images uploaded by CATL shows this latest CTP battery technology available in single block, dual block and triple block configurations.

It says a single CTP battery pack can provide a driving range of up to 200 km, although it doesn’t list the efficiency standard it used.

This Kirin CTP battery technology is available in both lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and provides the following energy density figures:

LFP:

• Gravity energy density: 160Wh/kg
• Volumetric Energy Density: 290Wh/L

NMC:

• Gravity energy density: 250Wh/kg
• Volumetric Energy Density: 450Wh/L

The main competitor of this CATL CTP battery technology is the BYD Blade battery, which is used in BYD Atto 3.

PushEVs reported that the Blade battery in the long-range Atto 3, also known as the Yuan Plus in other markets, has an equivalent gravity power density of 150Wh/kg.

PushEVs also speculated that if China built Tesla Model 3 using the new CATL battery, it will have a 28% higher energy density – from 125 to 160Wh/kg. Theoretically, this would mean more range from a battery pack of the same size.

Seeing that CATL made LFP batteries for Tesla Model 3 made in China and Model Ywouldn’t be surprised if this new technology made its way into these cars.

CATL is the world’s largest battery manufacturer and currently produces batteries for automakers including Tesla, Volkswagen Group, BMW, Hyundai, Honda and Volvo.