Chinese CATL Unveils New ‘Densest Battery’ for Electrification of Air Traffic

The world’s largest battery manufacturer, Chinese CATL, has unveiled a new ‘condensed battery‘ for the electrification of air traffic. The company states that this represents a technological breakthrough in battery technology, thanks to a technology that offers an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg, which is sufficient for the creation, i.e., flight, of fully electric aircraft, claims this Chinese mega company. The significance of an energy density of 500 Wh/kg is best illustrated by the fact that Tesla’s 4680 battery cells, considered among the most advanced on today’s market, have an energy density of ‘only’ 296 Wh/kg.

– The launch of condensed batteries will open an era of universal electrification of maritime, land, and air transport, and will create more opportunities for industry development – said the company during the presentation of the new batteries.

CATL’s chief scientist Wu Kai states that ‘the condensed battery integrates a range of innovative technologies, including ultra-high energy density cathode materials, innovative anode materials, separators, and manufacturing processes, offering excellent charging and discharging performance, as well as good safety performance.’

The company adds that the new technology breaks the boundaries that have long limited the development of the battery sector and will usher in a new era of electrification focused on high safety and low weight. They also state that the company is actively working with partners on the development of electric passenger aircraft that meet aviation safety standards.

In addition to aircraft, CATL says it will soon launch a version of condensed batteries for cars, which it claims will also enter mass production during this year.

Electrification of Passenger Aircraft

In 2020, Elon Musk stated that ‘electric flight starts to become interesting when you reach 400 Wh/kg’ and predicted that this could be achieved by 2023, and he clearly was not mistaken. This week’s announcement confirms and even surpasses Musk’s predictions that this level of energy density would be commercially viable by now. Earlier this month, the Argonne research center announced a new battery technology with an energy density of 1200 Wh/kg, although that technology is not yet ready for mass production.

– With further development, we expect our new design for lithium-air batteries to also achieve a record energy density of 1200 watt-hours per kilogram – said Argonne scientist Larry Curtiss.

Although there have been many discoveries in high-density batteries in recent months, many of these technologies are still in their infancy and will take many years to reach mass production, although CATL announces that their condensed battery will enter mass production as early as this year.