Chinese company CATL, the world's largest battery manufacturer, has shown off new developments for electric vehicles, writes PCMag. Among them is a battery that allows you to drive up to 1,500 km without recharging. This battery, called the Freevoy Dual-Power Battery, has an unusual structure: it consists of two separate blocks that work as two independent energy zones.
The first battery zone is designed to meet daily needs, while the second, extended power zone, is activated for long-distance travel. CATL says this is a "fundamental step" in solving the problem of limited range of electric vehicles. The battery technology uses a variety of chemistries, including well-known options such as Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) and Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP), and features "self-forming anode" technology that increases energy density by 60%.
Additionally, the battery system offers a more stable and reliable power source for autonomous vehicles, especially for Level 3 and 4 systems. CATL believes that using different battery packs with different chemistries can provide greater efficiency and stability.
However, it is currently unknown how much such a battery will cost and when it will become available on the market.
Incidentally, CATL also unveiled an improved version of the Shenxing battery, first released in 2023 and already installed in some mass-produced electric vehicles. The battery is capable of adding 520 km of range in just five minutes of charging. The improved version is expected to power more than 67 electric vehicles by 2025.