Shanghai (ZXZC)- CATL today launched its third-generation CTP (cell-to-pack) battery technology. The battery using this technology is dubbed "Qilin", named after a legendary creature from China.

Qilin Battery; photo credit: CATL

The Qilin battery embodies CATL's redefinition of battery structure. With a record-breaking volume utilization efficiency of 72%, it is the battery with the highest-ever integration level in the world and can deliver a range of up to 1,000km.

Photo credit: CATL

According to CATL, the Qilin battery features a streamlined three-in-one design, rapid thermal control with quadrupled cooling system, and unconventional space sharing design.

To be specific, the Qilin battery utilizes a multi-functional sandwich structure with an elastic interlayer, instead of the separate design of the internal crossbeam, liquid-cooling plate, and thermal pad. It also features built-in micron bridges, which accommodate the cell’s inner changes, enhancing the battery's reliability through its full lifecycle.

Photo credit: CATL

In Qilin, CATL has increased the battery's heat transfer area fourfold by placing liquid cooling functional parts between cells rather than using the traditional bottom design. Besides, the large-surface cooling technology has halved thermal control time, and can support 5-minute hot start and 10-minute fast charging.

Thanks to the full validation through precise calculation and AI simulation, CATL has enabled multiple functional components to share the pack bottom space, and set up a smart arrangement for such functional modules as structure protection units, high-voltage connectors, and thermal runaway exhausts, thus increasing the battery capacity by 6%.

Thanks to the innovation in chemistry and structure, the Qilin battery can lift the battery system energy density to 255Wh/kg. It will be mass produced at CATL's Lighthouse factory next year.