CATL's new battery tech promises 800-km range and five-minute charging

Forward-looking: CATL has announced a series of breakthroughs that could reshape the EV industry, promising batteries that are cheaper, lighter, faster to recharge, and more resilient in extreme temperatures, all while extending driving range. The company, which supplies a third of the world's EV batteries to major automakers including GM and Tesla's Shanghai plant, unveiled these just ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show.

At a press event reminiscent of a high-profile car launch, China's leading battery maker CATL detailed innovations that could bring electric cars closer to price and performance parity with their gasoline-powered counterparts within the next few years.

Batteries account for at least a third of an EV's cost, making CATL's progress particularly significant for automakers worldwide.

One of the most notable developments is CATL's new approach to auxiliary batteries. Traditionally, EVs have relied on a single large battery pack, but CATL ...