CATL has launched the Freevoy battery for hybrid vehicles, which offers a range of more than 400 kilometers and supports 4 C fast charging, allowing hybrid vehicles to deliver a BEV-like experience.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL, SHE: 300750) has launched a new battery for hybrid vehicles that is expected to enable a battery electric vehicle (BEV)-like experience for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

The Chinese power battery giant released the Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery at an event in Beijing today, saying it offers a battery range of more than 400 kilometers for hybrid vehicles and supports 4 C fast charging.

The move is expected to cater to the preferences of Chinese consumers, many of whom want the driving experience of BEVs but have range anxiety, thus opting for hybrids including EREVs.

So far this year, hybrid models have shown significantly stronger sales growth performance than BEVs in China.

In the January-September period, retail sales of hybrid models in China amounted to 3 million vehicles, up 78.11 percent year-on-year, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

By comparison, BEVs sold 4.13 million vehicles at retail in the same period, a much lower 17.79 percent year-on-year growth rate.

New energy vehicle (NEV) makers have also been carrying larger battery packs on some of their new hybrid models in order to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the strong growth of hybrids.

One example is Neta Auto's Neta L EREV variant, launched on April 22, which carries a battery pack with a capacity of 40.27 kWh and is capable of delivering a CLTC battery range of up to 310 km. The entry-level version of its all-electric SUV, the Neta X, has a battery pack with only a slightly higher capacity of 51.8 kWh.

The launch of the Freevoy battery heralds a new era of high-capacity EREV and PHEV batteries, said Gao Huan, CATL's chief technology officer, at today's event.

The battery allows vehicle owners to say goodbye to the need for frequent recharging of traditional hybrids due to their short battery range, Gao said, adding that a single charge of the Freevoy battery can support a week's commuting.

On top of the high capacity, CATL brings charging speeds to the Freevoy that rival those of today's mainstream high-end EVs.

Models equipped with the pack can get a range of more than 280 kilometers on a 10-minute charge, CATL said.

The power battery giant has also used sodium-ion battery technology in the Freevoy battery to significantly improve performance in low temperatures.

The Freevoy pack integrates sodium-ion batteries with lithium-ion batteries in a certain ratio and arrangement, resulting in a 5 percent improvement in low-temperature battery range, CATL said.

In extreme cold environments, the Freevoy can still be discharged at -40 degrees Celsius, recharged at -30 degrees Celsius, and at -20 degrees Celsius there is no difference in the driving experience to that in ambient temperatures, according to the company.

Brands including Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), Avatr, Deepal, Nevo, and Neta have chosen to use the Freevoy battery, CATL said.

By 2025, nearly 30 hybrid models from brands including Geely, Chery, GAC, Voyah, are expected to be equipped with the battery pack, it said.

Freevoy is the latest in CATL's battery technology, after previously launching several new batteries for BEV models.

The battery maker launched the Qilin Battery on June 23, 2022, which focuses on long range and enables vehicles to achieve a range of 1,000 km.

On August 16, 2023, CATL launched the Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery, which focuses on fast charging, and which it said at the time was the world's first LFP battery to support 4 C charging.

CATL is the world's largest power battery maker with 189.2 GWh of EV batteries installed in January-August, ranking first in the world with a 37.1 percent share, according to South Korean market researcher SNE Research.

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