On April 21, 2026, CATL's Super Technology Day debuted, featuring a range of new power battery products. Beyond marketing, the core technologies that will directly impact everyday drivers and shape future vehicle experiences are the third-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery, the third-generation Kirin battery, and the second-generation Xiaoyao super hybrid battery. These new batteries aim to address real-world pain points: slow charging, inaccurate range, excessive vehicle weight, and lack of power in hybrid modes when the battery is depleted. This article explains the technologies clearly and outlines their practical applications.
CATL Shenxing Battery Charges in 6 Minutes, a Direct Competitor to BYD's Flash Charging
For most people, the biggest annoyances with electric vehicles are long charging times, difficulty charging in winter, and concerns about battery damage from fast charging. The goal of the Shenxing battery is to make 'ultra-fast charging' a daily reality, and the third-generation Shenxing is designed for this purpose.
CATL Third-Generation Shenxing Battery
First, the key data: In ambient temperature conditions, this battery achieves extremely high charging efficiency: from 10% to 80% state of charge (SOC) takes only 3 minutes and 44 seconds, and from 10% to 98% SOC takes only 6 minutes and 27 seconds, approaching 'refueling-like' energy replenishment. For users in northern regions, it can charge from 20% to 98% SOC in about 9 minutes even at -30°C low temperatures, combined with self-heating technology, eliminating winter charging limitations due to charging stations and temperature.
The Shenxing battery can charge from 20% to 98% SOC in about 9 minutes even at -30°C low temperatures.
Through control of cell length, SEI gene directional editing technology, and layer-expansion graphite technology, the internal resistance of the current third-generation Shenxing battery has reached an average of 0.25 milliohms (at 25°C, based on 120Ah, 50% SOC, 10 seconds as an example). This is considered top-tier in the industry.
With these performance enhancements, the Shenxing battery maintains a capacity retention rate easily above 90% after over 1,000 cycles.
Summary: The new-generation Shenxing battery primarily addresses charging efficiency, aiming for both speed and safety.
Are Cars Priced Above $36,765 Without NMC Batteries Cheating Consumers?
Long range = more batteries = heavier vehicle, higher energy consumption, worse handling? Vehicle weight is a persistent challenge for high-end electric vehicles. Many premium models easily exceed 2 tons, even approaching 3 tons. Is achieving long range by simply adding more batteries truly high-end? CATL's answer is clearly no. The third-generation Kirin battery they launched follows a different path: use fewer batteries to achieve more range.
In terms of weight and space, for example, a 125 kWh battery pack using LFP (lithium iron phosphate) would typically weigh over 880 kg, while the Kirin battery pack weighs about 625 kg, reducing weight by 255 kg and saving 112 liters of space. As the saying goes, 'saving one kilogram is better than adding ten horsepower.' Reducing over 200 kg can lead to lower energy consumption, shorter braking distances, better handling stability, and extended lifespan for the chassis and tires.
In terms of safety, this battery utilizes thermoelectric separation technology. In the event of a thermal runaway in the cell, high-temperature gases can be directed and expelled, structurally reducing the risk of thermal propagation. This makes it safer than traditional thermal isolation solutions, suitable for pure electric users seeking long range and high-quality travel.
Summary: The third-generation Kirin is CATL's flagship product, targeting the high-end market. If you are considering a luxury or performance vehicle, the Kirin battery is worth considering.
600km! The Era of Extended-Range is Also Entering a New Age
Actually, when seeing CATL's second-generation Xiaoyao Super Extended-Range/Hybrid battery at the launch event, the first impression wasn't surprise but rather a sigh at how fast the battery industry is changing. Last year, everyone was talking about 300 km of pure electric range, and this year it has jumped to 600 km. Returning to the topic, let's look at what's new with CATL's extended-range/hybrid battery.
This battery offers three configurations: a lithium iron phosphate version with a pure electric range of 500 km, meeting the need for a weekly charge for daily commuting; a super hybrid version (ternary lithium mixed with lithium iron phosphate) that increases range by 15% at the same weight; and a ternary version with a pure electric range exceeding 600 km and a comprehensive range over 2000 km, covering scenarios from household use to high-end applications.
In terms of power, it can still deliver stable high power output even at low charge levels. Even with a state of charge below 20%, it can easily handle scenarios like off-road recovery, completely eliminating the 'low-power sluggish vehicle' issue. On the safety front, bottom impact resistance reaches 10 times the national standard, and performance remains unaffected after immersion in 2 meters of water for over 200 hours, offering higher reliability in complex road conditions and harsh weather.
What Else Was Discussed Besides the Core Three Batteries?
Besides these three major battery series, CATL also mentioned its Kirin Condensed State Battery, Sodium New Battery, and Chocolate Battery Swap at last night's launch event. Among these, the Kirin Condensed State Battery is an aviation-grade battery adapted for the automotive sector.
CATL's Condensed State Battery is essentially still a ternary lithium battery, with its electrolyte changed from liquid to a jelly-like state.
Its cost is certainly quite high, so it is currently only suitable for flagship sedans or large SUVs. This battery can achieve an energy density of 350 Wh/kg, and its electrolyte is in a jelly-like state, meaning it won't combust even with an open flame. The capabilities of this aviation-grade product are indeed impressive.
The Sodium New Battery will also debut at the upcoming 2026 Beijing Auto Show.
The Sodium New Battery is more focused on industrial chain implementation, with formal mass production scaling up this year, something to look forward to. Finally, regarding battery swap, CATL plans to have cumulatively built 4,000 super-swap integrated stations by the end of 2026, covering nearly 190 cities and a 12 vertical, 11 horizontal highway network. It will collaborate with automakers and energy partners to build a 'Super-Swap Shared Network,' guided by the principles of technology sharing, interconnectivity, and joint investment. Initial partners include Changan, Chery, GAC, Seres, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and BAIC, with plans to construct over 14,706 shared energy replenishment infrastructure points by the end of 2028.
Final Thoughts: From the Shenxing Super-Charging Battery addressing range anxiety, to the Kirin Battery balancing long range and safety, and the Xiaoyao Battery specifically designed for hybrid and extended-range applications, the three core products launched by CATL target the three essential needs of fast charging, long range, and hybrid specialization. They respond to users' most genuine pain points with more pragmatic technological optimizations. As these technologies gradually enter mass production and vehicles, the range, energy replenishment, and reliability experiences of new energy travel will undergo practical upgrades that are closer to everyday use. (Images/Text Leng Xiaoyang)