Chinese CATL unveils fast-charging battery adding 520 km in 5 minutes for electric vehicles

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) has revealed a new version of its Shenxing fast-charging electric vehicle battery. The Chinese energy storage giant claims the second-gen technology will allow EVs to add up to 520 km in just five minutes of plugging in.

The new battery was unveiled in Shanghai, where the company’s chief technology officer, Gao Huan, said it will charge from 0 to 80 percent in 15 minutes.

CATL is coming out swinging. The new battery will power more than 67 EV models in 2025 alone. The battery maker is also launching a sodium-based battery with a 175 Wh/kg energy density.

CATL remains the biggest battery maker globally and supplies automakers such as Tesla, BMW, NIO, Volkswagen, Toyota, etc. It aims to reduce EV production costs by making less expensive batteries.

CATL, however, is not the only company working on reducing EV charging times. BYD has already launched two EV models that can accept up to 1 MW of power and add 400 km in just five minutes. Another Chinese EV maker, Zeekr, leapfrogged BYD by unveiling a new 1.2 MW EV charger, with roll-out scheduled for the second quarter of 2025. Tesla is also a major player in rapid EV charging and is gradually welcoming other brands to its acclaimed Supercharger network.