Shanghai (ZXZC)- On July 20, Chinese power battery giant CATL officially commenced production at the first phase of its Luoyang base, with the first Qilin Battery assembled at the facility, according to a media report posted by the municipal government of Luoyang city, Henan province.

CATL broke ground on the Luoyang battery production base on September 28, 2022. The base has a planned land area of 1,700 mu (about 113 hectares) and a total investment of no more than 14 billion yuan, set to work as one of CATL's thirteen production bases worldwide.

CATL's Qilin Battery (product photo from CATL, not the on-spot image)

The newly assembled Qilin Battery, first introduced in June 2022, utilizes CATL's third-generation CTP (cell-to-pack) technology, achieving a global record for system integration. It boasts a volumetric utilization rate of up to 72% and an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg, enabling a vehicle range of over 1,000 kilometers. The Qilin Battery also features a pioneering large-surface cell cooling technology, allowing for a hot start in 5 minutes and fast charging in 10 minutes.

Some industry experts noted that the majority of China's power battery production capacity is concentrated in East and Southwest China. The launch of CATL's Luoyang base will enhance the new energy industry chain in Central China, from both a regional supply chain and strategic enterprise perspective.

Additionally, construction has begun on the second phase of the Luoyang base, aimed at further expanding high-end new energy battery production capacity. Once fully operational, the Luoyang base is expected to generate a production value of 100 billion yuan, fostering the coordinated development of upstream and downstream supporting enterprises and services.