CATL developing lifetime EV battery with NIO to increase electric cars' warranty and resale value

The world's largest battery maker CATL and NIO, one of the most innovative electric car companies, have partnered to create long-life EV batteries that will last the life cycle of the vehicle.

NIO has a network of battery swap stations whose 70-kWh, 75-kWh, and 100-kWh packs by CATL are rated for a 12-year capacity retention, but both companies want to develop batteries that last even longer. Just yesterday, NIO announced that it has already executed 40 million EV battery swaps that take less than 3 minutes.

EV battery pack warranty extension

Currently, the typical electric car battery pack comes with an 8-year warranty, but anecdotal evidence shows that modern chemistries can probably last 15 years before their capacity drops below 80%.

The widespread 8-year EV battery warranty, however, is affecting the resale value of electric cars, including Tesla vehicles, as millions of those will be coming out of warranty in the 2025-2032 period. Granted, replacement battery packs are falling in price together with the broader price slump of battery materials and the appearance of new technologies.

Still, NIO and CATL want to develop EV batteries that last the vehicle lifetime and keep its resale value higher as a means to attract more buyers who often cite battery degradation as an obstacle before purchase.

Long-life EV battery technology 

CATL will use its already developed technology for slower capacity attenuation via self-repairing Solid Electrolyte Interphase film, while NIO will contribute with its expertise in material synthesis and system assembly, as well as validation and testing in real world conditions.

NIO's battery R&D department already proved its mettle by partnering with the battery startup WeLion to develop a 150 kWh battery pack with 95% solid electrolyte. The semi solid-state battery will be put in NIO's performance EVs and recently was able to propel its ET7 sedan for more than 600 miles on a charge in a highway range test.

CATL initially balked at partnering with NIO over the semi solid-state battery development, citing R&D costs and time, but when it saw that NIO managed to pull it off, it changed its mind. NIO's long-life EV battery strategy has apparently been convincing enough, too, so that CATL execs sat down today and signed a partnership.

CATL will now develop and equip future NIO cars with lifetime battery packs, realizing the competitive advantage this would bring for NIO, but also for its own clients that include Tesla, which buys its LFP cells for the Model 3.

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