- Third-generation Qilin Battery delivers peak charging rate of 15C and range exceeding 1,000 km.
- Second-generation Freevoy hybrid battery offers up to 600 km of all-electric range.
CATL rolled out a series of new battery products at its 2026 Tech Day held this evening, covering applications ranging from passenger vehicles and hybrids to racing and battery swapping.
The world's largest power battery maker is seeking to consolidate its leadership in an increasingly competitive industry, with today's event coming one year after its previous tech day event.
Third-generation Qilin Battery
CATL officially launched the third-generation Qilin Battery, raising the charging rate to an equivalent of 10C, with a peak of 15C.
The nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery achieves a volumetric energy density of 600 Wh/L and a gravimetric energy density of 280 Wh/kg, both industry-leading levels.
A 125 kWh Qilin Battery pack can give a vehicle a driving range of more than 1,000 km.
A pack of that capacity weighs just 625 kg, which is 255 kg lighter than a comparable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
This translates into a noticeable improvement in handling. Vehicles equipped with the battery accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h 0.6 second faster, and their braking distance from 100 km/h is cut by 1.44 meters, CATL said.
In moose tests, the battery allows vehicles to maintain speeds 8% higher, reduces body roll by 6.5%, and improves extreme hazard avoidance capability by 15% to 25%.
The lighter battery also cuts energy consumption per 100 km by more than 6%, saving about 0.78 kWh per 100 km, according to CATL.
It also extends the service life of vehicle components. The lifespan of key chassis parts is extended by 40%, and tire life is improved by over 30%, extending replacement intervals by at least 10,000 km.
The battery's volume is reduced by 112 liters, equivalent to the space of three standard 20-inch suitcases. Passengers gain an additional 18 mm of headroom inside the cabin.
A track version of the Qilin Battery, launched at the same event, supports equivalent 10C charging and delivers peak discharge power of up to 3,000 kW.
CATL also introduced the Qilin Condensed Battery, with a gravimetric energy density of 350 Wh/kg, a volumetric energy density of 760 Wh/L, and a pack weight of less than 650 kg.
Executive-class sedans equipped with the battery can achieve a range of 1,500 km, while full-size large SUVs can reach 1,000 km.
Third-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery
CATL also unveiled the third-generation Shenxing superfast charging battery, capable of equivalent 10C charging with a peak of 15C.
The battery can be charged from 10% to 35% in just 1 minute, and from 10% to 80% in only 3 minutes and 44 seconds. Going from 10% to 98% takes just 6 minutes and 27 seconds.
Even in extreme cold conditions of −30°C, charging from 20% to 98% takes about 9 minutes.
After 1,000 complete charging cycles, the battery's capacity retention remains above 90%, according to CATL.
BYD just released its second-generation Blade Battery and flash-charging technology in March, which can be charged from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes and from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes.
Second-generation Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery
Targeting extended-range and plug-in hybrid models, CATL released the second-generation Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery.
The battery offers 500 km of all-electric range and supports an equivalent 10C charging speed. This brings a "charge once a week" experience to range-extended vehicles, CATL said.
Based on LFP chemistry, the battery reaches an energy density of 230 Wh/kg, a 20% improvement over conventional LFP batteries and a 15% gain in range.
CATL also introduced an NCM version of the Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery, with the same equivalent 10C charging speed. It offers 600 km of all-electric range and a combined range of up to 2,000 km.
Rugged off-road vehicles equipped with the battery can deliver "megawatt-class" power output. Power reaches 1,500 kW at full charge, and remains at 1,200 kW even at 20% state of charge.
The company said the system provides more than three times the power required in off-road scenarios that demand over 350 kW of output.
#26 Choco-Swap battery
CATL officially launched the Choco-Swap #26 battery, built on an 800-volt high-voltage architecture. The first product to hit the market will be a 75 kWh version, with larger capacities to follow, covering B-segment and C-segment vehicles.
Together with the earlier #20 and #22 versions, the Choco-Swap battery series now covers the full range of vehicles from A0 to C segments.
The Choco-Swap program has so far partnered with 11 automakers and 18 passenger vehicle brands, covering 25 models.
CATL announced that both the Choco-Swap stations for passenger cars and the Qiji swap stations for heavy-duty trucks will come standard with Shenxing superfast charging piles.
CATL plans to build 4,000 integrated charge-and-swap stations by the end of 2026, covering nearly 190 cities and a nationwide highway network spanning 12 vertical and 11 horizontal corridors. To date, the Choco-Swap network has built 1,470 stations across 99 cities.
CATL plans to build more than 100,000 shared energy replenishment facilities by the end of 2028.
CATL is the world's largest EV battery maker, continuing to dominate the global market with a 39.2% share in 2025, according to data from SNE Research.
