Seven years ago Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) was another small Chinese start up in a tea-growing province. Since then it has been on a relentless mission to become the world’s largest maker of electric car batteries. By 2018, it was already the biggest supplier in China with plans to enter the U.S. market.
IAA 2019 Showcases Contemporary Amperex Technology
The Internationale Automobil Ausstellung (IAA) is Frankfurt, Germany’s largest automobile show. Electric cars are enjoying an increasingly high profile there. Therefore CATL knows this is a highway into Europe where it plans to take Tesla head on.
INSIDE EV’S reports business is booming in Europe for the Chinese battery heavyweight. It has orders from European brands BMW, Daimler, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. Therefore, we can expect bespoke products for these companies ‘in the near future’ INSIDE EV’S predicts.
Spread of Battery Technologies Available from CATL
Products on offer from Contemporary Amperex Technology at IAA 2019 include both nickel-manganese-cobalt, and lithium-iron-phosphate chemistries. Moreover, there are various types of cells on display, plus battery management systems and even battery packs too. Their production plants are currently in Fujian, Jiangsu and Qinghai provinces in China. Capacity expansion for European markets is rolling out at Erfurt, Germany.
CATL’s booth at IAA 2019 features ultra-fast charging for nickel-manganese-cobalt and lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. They say they can reach 80% of capacity in 15 minutes. Moreover, they claim 365,000 miles per battery. This is a way off Tesla’s million mile mark, but knowing CATL we should watch this space. We have also heard their products are effective in temperatures ranging from -30°C to 60°C.
Contemporary Amperex Technology is investing heavily in safety through a multi-pronged approach. We understand these aspects include material optimization, product design, manufacturing, and after sales system integrity.
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Preview Image: CATL Battery Capacity Expansion at Erfurt, Germany
