A revolutionary collaboration
The Sino-American joint venture
The collaboration between General Motors and the SAIC group in partnership with CATL has resulted in a new battery that can be charged in just 10 minutes with exceptional power.
The challenges of charging electric vehicles
Many motorists are reluctant to buy electric cars because of the price, range, and charging time. However, these issues are evolving rapidly.
Ultra-fast charging
All players in the automotive industry are focusing on the development of batteries with higher energy density to increase range and reduce charging time. Companies like CATL and StoreDot are working on promising innovations. The new battery designed by General Motors, SAIC, and CATL offers an impressive solution with ultra-fast charging.
Characteristics of the new battery
This new LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery can reach a maximum charge power of 6C. For example, a 50 kWh battery could receive a charging power of 300 kW, allowing a recharge in less than ten minutes.
Performance of the 6C battery
A 6C battery can recover more than 200 kilometers in five minutes according to the Chinese cycle CLTC, or about 170 kilometers according to the European cycle WLTP. This technology uses new electrolytes to improve conductivity and reduce viscosity.
Compatible charging stations
To take advantage of this battery, charging stations capable of delivering such power are necessary. In China, some stations reach 800 kW, while in France, the maximum power is 360 kW at Lidl.
Implementation planned for next year
GM-SAIC and CATL plan for this technology to be operational as early as next year on General Motors cars using the Ultium 900 volts platform. This concerns models such as the Cadillac Lyriq and Optiq, as well as the GMC Hummer EV.
New improvements
GM also announces an improved 900-volt architecture with a better cooling system for future generations of batteries. Currently, the fastest battery reaches 5.5C, like the Golden Brick used by the Zeekr 007.
