200km range in 5 minutes of charging - SAIC, GM and CATL have developed a battery with a 6C charging speed

A joint venture between General Motors and SAIC, in collaboration with CATL, has developed a battery that is touted as the fastest charging battery for electric vehicles currently available.

The battery is based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology and achieves a charging speed of 6C. The "C" stands for the battery charge rate, with 6C meaning that the battery can theoretically be fully charged in one-sixth of an hour—10 minutes. In practice, the new battery can recover a driving range of over 200 km in a short 5-minute charging cycle.

According to SAIC-GM, the 6C battery employs several cutting-edge fast-charging technologies to enhance the efficiency of electrochemical reactions, improve charge efficiency, and ensure stable battery performance. The announcement states that the new electrolyte composition boosts conductivity and reduces viscosity, facilitating the desolvation of lithium ions.

The most exciting aspect of this news is that this is not a distant technology that will take years to develop, but a ready-to-use solution. It has been noted that the first vehicle equipped with the new battery will be launched next year.

The battery is designed to operate on GM's Ultium electric vehicle platform, which utilizes quasi-900V architecture, a new cell-to-pack (CTP) structural design, and enhanced cooling capabilities. Ultium serves as the foundational platform for GM's next-generation electric vehicles, set to debut next year. Further details about the new battery will also be revealed next year.

Source: arenaev