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SAIC-GM And CATL Launch Fastest-Charging EV Battery So Far

SAIC-GM and its battery manufacturing partner Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) have just launched the fastest-charging EV battery developed so far.

Front view of the SAIC-GM joint venture headquarters in Shanghai.

General Motors’ major joint venture in China and electric vehicle battery manufacturing specialist CATL have launched a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell with the first 6C ultra-fast charge multiplier, enabling the highest recharging speed available in an electric vehicle to date. As such, this configuration makes it the fastest-charging battery pack in the entire automotive industry.

During a joint official launch event in Shanghai, SAIC-GM and CATL revealed the first details and highlights of their upcoming ultra-fast charging LFP battery cell. According to the joint venture, the new cell features more economical lithium iron phosphate chemistry while introducing 6C ultra-fast charging capability for the first time in the EV industry.

Remarkably, the new LFP battery cell introduced by SAIC-GM and CATL can add a range of 200 km or 124 miles to an EV in just five minutes of DC fast charging. The C in the industry charging classification describes the battery cell’s charge multiplier. Therefore, 6C means the new battery can be fully charged in one-sixth of an hour or 10 minutes, depending on the power output of the station where it is plugged in.

In addition, the battery integrates multiple cutting-edge solutions such as “Ultra Electronic Network Cathode Technology,” which is said to significantly improve the efficiency of the electrochemical reaction and enhance charging performance. It is also equipped with “Second-Generation Graphite Fast Ion Ring Technology,” combined with multi-layer electrode sheets that reduce charge-discharge times while increasing energy density and cycle stability.

SAIC-GM revealed that the new 6C ultra-fast-charging LFP battery co-developed with CATL will debut in the first half of next year, as part of the upgraded Ultium Battery ‘quasi-900V’ high-voltage architecture technology. The evolution of the Ultium platform for China is expected to be first introduced in Cadillac EV models with additional improvements such as a new CTP structural design and improved cooling technology.

Deivis is an engineer with a passion for cars and the global auto business. He is constantly investigating about GM's future products.

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Comments

  1. When are we going to break away from China?

    Reply
    1. At the rate we are going, never. In fact we will be even more dependent on them and eventually be like them. Americans these days haven’t an ounce of national pride in them anymore (with the exception of a few of us), have zero principles or appreciation for their own personal liberties and freedoms, and every time we call out the flaws or bad acting of said country we are met with “but..but…but…America” despite these same people loving their freedoms to not associate with a gender and crack on the big bad orange man. You know? Rights that are forbidden in said country where these batteries are from or you and your family will suffer severe consequences. And this complete lack of principles amongst the people shows in how people in places like Australia and Europe are buying their cars in droves.

      At this point, the world majority has decided they prefer an authoritarian dystopian future over one of personal liberties and freedom to live as humans intended. People like Javier Milei (president of Argentina) are one of the few that see this terrifying trend we are heading. But like I said before. This will not be on my conscience as I never supported this and lived my life with principles before profits.

      Reply
      1. The article was about technical progress which will benefit people around the world. Why you have to take this opportunity to divide the USA population into “Americans these days haven’t an ounce of national pride in them anymore (with the exception of a few of us), have zero principles or appreciation for their own personal liberties and freedoms,
        Where did you get this information?

        Reply
        1. Of course. Many of the inventions the Germans did during the 30s also benefitted mankind. Like jet propulsion and the “Peoples Car.” And just like the Germans during this era towards the Jewish people and other non-Aryans, look up what they are teaching their kids in their schools about how to feel towards Americans (and the Japanese). Fostering a culture of hatred towards many of us with no ill will towards the people of that nation and just want to get through with our lives and be able to feed our families with the dwindling manufacturing jobs they are too happy to hollow out. Now tell me. Explain to me why I should turn a blind eye to this and accept doing business with this government shaking my hand with one hand while they hold a knife behind their back with another? Because if this is what you are implying many of us should do, as in shut up and accept it, you are part of that crowd I am referring to.

          Reply
          1. Just for the record, if that even matters, the British invented jet propulsion.

            Reply
            1. Had to look this up myself. Hans von Ohain of Germany was the designer of the first operational jet engine. However, British Frank Whittle held the patent for the turbojet engine in 1930. But the first operational jet was the Messerschmitt Me 262 built by the Nazis.

              Funny. It reminds me of the argument of who should be credited with the invention of the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell or Antonio Meucci.

              Reply
          2. Go away Russian troll bot.

            Reply
        2. Faux News Rage d’jour propaganda machine.

          Reply
          1. I don’t get my news from Faux News, nor CNN, nor CNBC for the extreme on the other side. Try Reuters, Al Jazeera, El País (Uruguayan News Outlet), AP, and NPR. And the conclusion still stands. Are these propaganda machines too? Because if they are perhaps RT, China Daily, and Xinghua are better sources since they are state owned so no agenda is being pushed through these outlets who probably have more freedom of press…

            Reply
      2. That rant is really rich coming from someone supporting a felon that is all about restricting freedom for certain classes of people in the US.

        Reply
        1. And where did you assume I am a supporter of Trump? Maybe I am a libertarian so I don’t care for either party and typically vote third party. Doesn’t mean I love my country any less. And your deflection of the matter only adds to my point. “But…but…but…America!” So keep burying your head in the sand and ignore what’s happening.

          Reply
  2. Remove all those Chinese Characters, The American people do NOT want things made in China.
    GM has got to wake up.

    Reply
    1. They co-developed the technology with the leading battery manufacturer in the world.

      You want that back? Need to support localizing and improving battery R&D investments in the US. Which Biden’s infrastructure and IRA bills have done.

      As GM is involved, they could and likely will, build those batteries not just in China but in the US as well, thanks to those Biden policies.

      Reply
      1. Biden has done nothing. He spent the entire 4 years at the beach or on the way to another beach.

        Reply
        1. I think you are confusing how Trump spent all his time golfing.

          Reply
  3. EV battery technology is evolving quickly… and China has taken the lead. I’m certainly no fan of China’s government, but thankfully GM is a partner in ongoing battery development.

    Reply
  4. Faster charging, for faster fires.

    Reply
  5. The new Bolt is scheduled to come out with LFP batteries when it returns in 2026. Will they be equipped with these fast charging batteries (as mentioned in this article)?

    I think an inexpensive EV with 5-10 minute recharge time will bring lots of sales!

    Reply
    1. That would be great. Fingers crossed. 🤞

      But even if first iteration doesn’t use this chemistry, the Ultium pack design is intended to be chemistry agnostic for the cells, and so any Ultium EV could be updated to use new cell chemistry and take advantage.

      Reply
    2. Rumor is Bolt battery is China origin, so the Blazer Ev will be US(NA) battery eligible for 7500$ tax credit making it cheaper to the public than the Bolt-LOFL

      Reply
  6. Nice advancement. Unfortunately, once we abandon ICE technology for these things China and their cohorts will be pretty much free to charge whatever they want for lithium.

    Reply
    1. And coerce anyone that has a problem with their aggression towards neighboring countries. “Don’t like us invading Taiwan or any aggression towards allies like Japan, South Korea, India, or Philippines in the internationally recognized South China Sea? Too bad. No lithium for you.” This won’t be like Russia with Ukraine where the whole world except fellow dictatorships condemned them. They will have plenty of leverage to do whatever the heck they want and be exempt from the global rule of law. This isn’t just about price. Its about making the world dependent on them and them not dependent on anyone else to enable that coercion. They already have the power to force the global south into siding with them on the matter of Taiwan. Russia has now become a vassal state of theirs almost entirely dependent on them since the Ukraine war started. Now they just need to do the same with the western superpowers.

      Reply
    2. This is why their is significant incentives in the infrastructure bill and IRA bill to develop a domestic supply chain or supply chain with “friendly” allies, and restrictions for EV batteries and materials sourced from “foreign entities of concern”.

      Lithium is a very common element and there are plenty of reserves all around the world and in North America. We just need to invest in the mining and processing.

      Reply
      1. I hope it can be done. This is a dangerous road we are heading being dependent on an adversary. People complained about the Saudis oil embargo there is nothing to say the CCP won’t do the same. In fact Brazilians will tell you quite the opposite.

        Reply
      2. My understanding is that some of the largest reserves in the USA are on American Indian land and they don’t seem too anxious to see it strip mined.

        Reply
  7. “Depending on the power output of the station where it is plugged in.”

    How many watts/amps does it take to deliver 124 miles of range in five minutes?

    Good to see fast-charge batteries finally on the horizon. Problem remains that the North American power grid isn’t remotely ready (and won’t be for decades).

    Reply
    1. If it’s a Hummer, you’re looking at 2MW for 5 minutes

      If it’s a Bolt, you’re looking at 800kW for 5 minutes

      If it’s a Lyriq, you’re looking at 1MW for 5 minutes

      Reply
  8. After what the Israeli’s were able to accomplish with a “redesigned” pager and walkie-talkie battery, how will anyone know if a “special capability” had been added to their vehicle battery pack. When dealing with that country, I guess it will have to be a case of, “Trust but verify!”

    Reply
  9. By now, LFP battery must be having a 50% share in the battery market with the other 50% belonging to Ternary battery.
    Meanwhile sodium battery is also making inroads into the battery energy storage area.
    If all storage system moves to sodium, that will free up the lithium battery for automotive use.

    In 2024-08, NEV has captured 54% share in chinese market. This new battery and the vehicles based on this should help NEV gain more.

    Reply
  10. Looks like my prediction from five years ago is quickly becoming reality.

    I said by 2030 that EV’s will be able to charge within 10 minutes (to 80%) on any given form factor. The key is that automakers need to move all of their architectures to 800 Volts.

    It is going to become so cheap to mass produce BEV’s that vehicle segments will actually start coming down in price. Hopefully most Legacy Automakers can whether the storm on this monumental shift Globally. Some unfortunately might not.

    Side note:
    I would assume in the future there will be three Form factors for Batteries.
    Blade Style
    LFP Prismatic
    Cylindrical (4680/4690 Size most likely)

    This is why I have been stating that GM needs to get rid of the Pouch batteries ASAP and move to LFP and Cylindrical as soon as possible.

    Reply

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