Episode 75: CATL "Condensed Battery"

The biggest "battery earthquake" so far this year: CATL announces cells with over 500 Wh/kg with its "Condensed Matter Battery" on April 19!  And we ask ourselves: Is this possibly the first solid-state battery in mass production? And where are the Europeans in this race?

"CATL's Condensed Battery is a so-called 'Almost Solid-State Battery'(ASSB)," says Prof. Maximilian Fichtner. Currently, several companies are already working on the development of such semi-solid-state batteries (SolidPower, ProLogium, Amprius, Ganfeng, etc.). However, experts believe that only a few manufacturers will be able to achieve this goal in the next few years. "Unlike startups like QuantumScape, CATL has the production capacity and experience to build innovative batteries quickly," Fichtner said. Looking at the "Condensed Battery," CATL's chief developer Wu Kai summarizes, "The battery combines innovative cathode materials with ultra-high energy density, new anode and separator materials with a completely novel electrolyte."

Battery researchers are wondering what cell chemistry is in the "Condensed Battery":

• Lithium metal battery?
• Silicon anode?
• anode-free battery?
• Lithium-sulfur battery?

If CATL's announcements prove true, the new cell would have an energy density of 500 Wh/kg, almost twice that of Tesla's 4680 cells (280 Wh/kg). In this case, luxury cars would soon be able to achieve ranges of 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers.

CATL is reportedly already testing the battery with aerospace companies for use in aircraft. Our podcast guest Prof. Maximilian Fichtner is therefore inclined to bring a different (and so far little noticed) cell chemistry into play: Are we possibly talking about lithium-sulfur batteries?

Further links:

CATL press release: www.catl.com/en/news/6015.html

Podcast on lithium-sulfur batteries (Charged episode) www.youtube.com/watch

Podcast on battery drives in aviation (charged episode) www.youtube.com/watch