Catl

The head of CATL explains why it will still take us a while to see them in cars

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We have been hearing the industry buzz for years about solid state batteries. These promise more autonomy, faster charging and greater safety than the current liquid electrolyte ones. However, everything indicates that we still have a long way to go until we see them in commercial vehicles. And the president of CATL, Robin Zeng, has spoken in an interview with the Chinese magazine Caijing, suggesting that they are unviable before 2030, and that when they arrive, they will not be for the average buyer. They are not ready. Zeng explained in the interview that, for the production of these batteries to make industrial sense, the industry needs to manufacture at least one million vehicles with them, and that volume does not seem to be achievable before 2030. In addition, the manager suggests that, if ready, they would first target the premium vehicle segment. Technical problems. According to share At CarNewsChina, CATL’s solid-state technology is currently at level four on a nine-point technology maturity scale. That means it remains confined to laboratories and prototyping phases. As the media reports, the main bottleneck is at the solid-solid interface, since to join the components, hot isostatic pressing is applied at 6,000 atmospheres of pressure. The problem is that materials with different densities misalign under that pressure, creating internal resistance and accelerating cell degradation. Other chemicals. With solid batteries still in the lab, CATL continues to accelerate with conventional liquid electrolyte chemistry. In May, the company reached an installed capacity of 33.08 GWhup from 29.06 GWh in April, according to data from China EV DataTracker. The bulk of this volume is supported by lithium-ferrophosphate (LFP) batteries, which in May represented 23.12 GWh, while ternary lithium batteries added 9.96 GWh. For now, these batteries are what keep the industry going. Cost, another barrier. In previous statements, the company recognized that solid-state sulfur cells cost three to five times more than conventional lithium-ion cells. The development of sulfur electrolyte technology alone requires a cumulative investment estimated at 10 billion yuan (about 1.27 billion euros). There are alternatives that don’t wait. Although pure solid state is far away, some Chinese manufacturers are betting on intermediate architectures. From CarNewsChina stands out the alternative from Dongfeng Motor, which plans to integrate into production during the second half of 2026 an oxide-polymer composition battery with an energy density of 350 Wh/kg and ranges of more than 1,000 kilometers. This hybrid approach reduces the total weight of the battery pack by 30% compared to conventional liquid solutions and improves cold performance by more than 10%, according to the company’s testing at -30 ° C in Mohe, where prototypes maintained more than 74% of their nominal capacity. The aerospace sector already uses them. Outside of the automobile, technology advances faster in niches where cost is not a limiting factor. And just as share CarNewsChina drone manufacturer Ehang completed an unmanned flight across the Qiongzhou Strait using a 480 Wh/kg solid-state lithium-metal battery manufactured by Shenzhen Neox. The Chinese industry does not act alone. In parallel, since January 2024 there has been the China All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform (CASIP), an alliance promoted by the Chinese government which brings together battery manufacturers such as CATL, BYD, CALB, Gotion or SVOLT, along with both state and private car manufacturers. The stated goal is to develop and produce competitive solid batteries with an established supply chain before 2030. According to counted Nikkei at the time, the State also participates with public funds, which makes clear Beijing’s desire not to lose leadership in this sector. Cover image | Andrew Roberts In Xataka | Spain will have to maintain 1,000 more km of roads in 2027. Problem: a hole of 13,000 million euros without solving

CATL wants a battery as powerful as gasoline. And he will trust his plan: lithium-air

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CATL has prepared a very interesting roadmap for us over the next few years. With an energy transition increasingly accentuated in the automotive industry, there are several battery technologies that will fight for permanence in the next decade. Wu Kai, chief scientist of CATL and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, advertisement At the Equipment and Energy Forum 2026, the company has identified lithium-air technology as the strategic front where the next great global battery battle will be fought. It is the first time that CATL makes this bet officially public. Why this ad matters. CATL controls 47% of the global electric vehicle battery market, according to April 2026 datawhich means we are talking about the world’s largest battery manufacturer by market share. The company has also accumulated five consecutive years as a leader in global energy storage, with a share of 30.4% in 2025. So, when its chief scientist points out a technology as the battlefield of the future, the industry listens. What exactly is a lithium-air battery. Unlike conventional lithium ion batteries, which use heavy metal compounds (nickel, cobalt, manganese) to house lithium ions, lithium-air batteries dispense with that solid cathode and replace these materials with oxygen taken directly from ambient air. The anode is pure metallic lithium. The result is a lighter system with an open architecture, which has led researchers to call them “breathable batteries”. Without so much dead weight inside the cell, the potential energy density skyrockets. The numbers. The theoretical energy density of this technology reaches 12,000 Wh/kg, a figure comparable to that of gasoline, which is around 13,000 Wh/kg. The lithium ion batteries that equip electric cars today offer between 250 and 270 Wh/kg. Solid-state batteries, considered the next big leap, aim for about 500 Wh/kg. The lithium-air prototypes already developed in the laboratory have exceeded 1,200 Wh/kg, more than four times the capacity of current batteries. If this technology were commercialized, we would be talking about electric cars with ranges of more than 1,600 kilometers on a single charge. A problem that comes from the 70s. The lithium-air battery concept is not new. And just as share CarNewsChina, its theoretical foundations were laid out in the 1970s. The problem is that taking it from theory to practice has proven extraordinarily difficult. The cells are very sensitive to humidity and carbon dioxide present in the air, which causes rapid degradation. Added to this are problems with catalyst stability and a very short useful life. But there is real progress. In 2024, a joint team from the University of Illinois Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory and California State University Northridge managed to demonstrate a lithium-air battery capable of exceeding 700 charge cycles in an environment similar to real air. A year later, in 2025, Argonne National Laboratory and the Illinois Institute of Technology developed a prototype that reached 1,200 Wh/kg with a life of 1,000 cycles at room temperature. According to collect CarNewsChina, this design is not expected to be ready for use in vehicles before 2030. The key to the breakthrough was, among other things, replacing liquid electrolytes (which are flammable) with a solid matrix composed of a ceramic polymer with lithium-rich nanoparticles, which stabilizes the cell during high-energy cycles. How does this fit into CATL’s strategy. The company already has experience in converting alternative technologies into market products. An example is sodium-ion batteries, which were proposed by the company in 2020 and This same year they are already being mass producedinstalled in models such as the GAC Aion UT, the Changan Oshan 520 and vehicles from Geely, Chery and FAW. According to explained Kai in the forum, the company’s strategy is planned in the short term to offer mature technologies to meet current demand; in the medium term, solid state batteries to improve the experience in premium vehicles; and in the long term, lithium-air with the intention of exploring the physical limits of energy storage. Between the lines. Betting on lithium-air now is not waiting for a product for next year. Just like points out Gasgoo, for large companies, investing in these frontier technologies serves above all to accumulate patents, secure strategic positions and build technical reserves, not to generate short-term income. It is something like a move to avoid surprises in case another company decides to announce a disruptive technology. Cover image | CATL In Xataka | Peugeot, on PureTech engines: “We recognize that we have done things wrong”

CATL is the largest battery manufacturer in the world and has a new goal: electrify the entire sea

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CATL, the Chinese giant that dominates the global battery market for electric vehicles, it has become entrenched to move towards a new front: the electrification of maritime transport. It makes more sense than it seems, but it is still a great technical challenge. Although the company is not caught by surprise. Below these lines we tell you all the details. What you are already doing. The company, which controls 37% of the global market for batteries for electric cars and 22% of the energy storage market in electrical networks and data centers, has been working in the naval sector since 2017. It has so far deployed its battery systems on about 900 vessels, although mainly on small ships operating near the Chinese coast, in ports or on rivers. Its subsidiary dedicated specifically to powering ships already exists, and this year it plans to more than double the team’s staff, reaching around 500 people, according to confirmed Su Yi, the head of that division, told the Financial Times. Why now. As the media shares, the maritime sector is responsible for 3% of global carbon emissions, and the International Maritime Organization has set itself a goal halve those emissions by 2050. But there is another more recent catalyst that has made many companies reconsider: the recent escalation of war between the United States and Israel against Iran and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The war in the Middle East has once again highlighted the fragility of energy supply chains and CATL has a good margin of maneuver there. According to counted To FT Neil Beveridge, an analyst at Bernstein specializing in energy in China, the long-term consequence of this type of situation will be an acceleration of the “global mega-migrant towards electrification.” CATL shares on the Shenzhen stock exchange have risen about 13% since the conflict with Iran broke out. The challenges. Electrifying boats is not like electrifying cars, up to this point I think we are all clear. But seriously, batteries have a much lower energy density than traditional fuels, making them impractical for long-distance ocean crossings. The middle shared the study by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Navigation, in which they concluded that the most promising approach in the short term is hybrid: combining electric propulsion with combustion engines. Added to this are extra risks that come from the marine environment itself: greater exposure to humidity and salinity, much more difficult evacuation conditions in the event of a fire, and the need for more demanding maintenance than in any car. Replicate the truck business model. CATL does not want to limit itself to selling batteries, as it wants to build an entire infrastructure around it, just as share in FT. It already operates in China a network of battery exchange points for trucks on highways, and now intends to take that same model to the sea. The idea is that ship operators can change their batteries in port without having to charge them, which would also eliminate that cost from the ship’s acquisition price. The company is working with municipalities and ports to develop this ecosystem from scratch; Cities like Guangzhou, one of China’s major shipbuilding centers, already offer subsidies for electric-powered vessels, according to share the middle. A personal story. There is a rather curious detail in all this. And just as account FT, Robin Zeng, founder of CATL, studied marine engineering at university before switching to electronics. “Naval engineering was his original discipline and passion,” Su Yi explained to the outlet. It has its advantages, because over time this discipline could end up becoming the next great industrial transformation of your company. Financial muscle. CATL closed 2025 with a net profit of 72.2 billion yuan (about 10.4 billion dollars), 42% more than the previous year, driven mainly by demand for energy storage. From this position of financial strength, the company has the muscle to invest long-term in a sector where margins are still uncertain. We’ll see how the company ends up doing. Cover image | Wikipedia and Elias In Xataka | In 2022, Europe forced energy companies to swallow the cost of the gas crisis. Now she’s willing to do the same.

That CATL is going to employ 2,000 people in Zaragoza is good news. The problem is that they are going to be brought from China

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“There are Chinese manufacturers in Europe that assemble cars with Chinese components and Chinese personnel. It happens in Spain and Hungary, and it is not right.” This is the statement of Stéphane SéjournéVice President of Prosperity and Industrial Strategy of the European Commission, in light of the way some Chinese manufacturers proceed to avoid tariffs on electric car that comes from China. Evidence that Europe is not happy with the “removable” kits from Chinese manufacturers. There are companies that have a magnifying glass on their projects in Spain. CATL, with its 4.1 billion euro plant, is one of them. Now, his vice president has justified why its 2,000 employees will be Chinese. Removable kits. The tariffs came into effect at the end of last year for those electric cars not only from Chinese manufacturers, but that are manufactured in China. The Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai either Europeans would also be included. What Europe seeks with these tariffs is to persuade manufacturers to establish themselves in the EU and create value in the points where they install themselves. Well: shortly after the tariffs began to be applied, the news broke that there were Chinese companies that were assembling their cars in Europe, yes, but they were not manufacturing them here. How did they do it? With removable kits. All work on key parts of the vehicle is done in China, where practically the entire car is assembled and then disassembled and the parts sent to the destination countries. They do it without wheels or steering wheel, but with all the critical parts, which are reassembled in factories in other countries. Europe did not look favorably on this measure and already raised an eyebrow, but more recently, both Séjourné and other European manufacturers –Josep María Recasens, president of Renault Spain– they raised the hare. Recasens directly stated that Chinese manufacturers are making “four plates with wheels.” Figueruelas Plant. There are plants that plan to change their way of acting in the short term, but what some point out is that this harms the area in which these companies are located. SEAT, for example, gives work to 15,000 people in Martorell, generating thousands of indirect jobs around it. And it is common: the manufacturer employs directly, but also generates work in the surrounding areas because logistics, auxiliary industries and local suppliers come into play. Another key point in this controversy is the factory that CATL wants to build in Zaragoza. It will be the result of a joint venture between CATL and Stellantis, with a investment of 4.1 billion euros which will be used to create LFP batteries. It is scheduled to begin production in 2026 and is expected to generate 3,000 direct jobs. The problem is that 2,000 of those workers They will come directly from China. CATL’s position. That would not meet the European Union’s desire to create wealth directly on the land on which they are established, but Meng Xiangfeng, vice president of CATL, has spoken out on the matter. It was during the COP30 climate summit held in Brazil where the manager was forceful: “it is not that we are not willing to hire local workers, it is that we need experienced technicians to build and perfect the production lines and start up the equipment.” According to Meng, they are not seeking to replace local employment, but rather to start the plant in the best possible way by requiring specialized knowledge. “During this process, we will train local workers so that they can gradually take over the operation,” assured. “You can’t come to Europe and build four plates with wheels and seats with little added value. We didn’t do it like that when we went to China, they shouldn’t do it when they come to Europe” – Josep María Recasens Local wealth. It’s no small feat: CATL is one of the leading companies when it comes to powering new energy vehicles and was one of those on the table during the debacle of the European Northvolt. In addition to Figueruelas, the company has another plant on European soil, in Erfurt, Germany. It was CATL’s first outside of China and the executive assured that the procedure at the Spanish plant will be the same as that already applied on German soil and will be applied at the other European plant in Hungary. Like BYD. and technology transfer. Once the plant is at full capacity, it will be possible to assess the extent to which the local wealth sought by the European Commission is created, but in addition to that issue, the issue of technology transfer is up in the air. Companies are jealous of their creations, and it is logical, but the president of Renault has a reason for Europe to force Chinese manufacturers to “teach us.” When Western manufacturers entered China, the country forced them to partner with local companies to produce on its soil. As a result of that knowledge we have cars like the MG4 Electricbut also the new Renault Twingo made in Shanghai and Japanese Mazda 6e developed by Changan in China. And what is sought is for that knowledge to be shared. As we say, we will see what happens, but Figuerelas will be a complicated case because those 2,000 employees who will come from China will practically double the current census of inhabitants of the municipality. Images | Stellantis In Xataka | “It is playing free trade with a totalitarian State”: three experts give their opinion on tariffs on Chinese electric cars

The Catl battery factory in Aragon promised to generate thousands of work. At the moment, 2,000 Chinese will be left

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1,847 Chinese workers. That is the estimated figure that, according to The Aragon newspaperwill arrive in Figueruelas to lift the battery production plant for electric cars that Catl and Stellantis signed months ago. Then it was sold that some 3,000 jobs would be created but, for the moment, almost 2,000 employees will come from the Asian country. The data. The first time that the subject was discussed Chain ser Last May. Then it was pointed out that Catl would arrive in Figueruelas (Aragon) with more than 2,200 workers from China who will raise the new battery factory for Stellantis “, in the words of Mayor Luis Bertol. The figure, as we see, has clarified until it closes in the aforementioned 1,847 workers. The town faces a challenge, since those almost 2,000 workers would fold the current census of inhabitants that In 2024 it was estimated at 1,240 neighbors. Obviously, the vast majority of factory workers that Stellantis has in the municipality live in nearby towns and, above all, in near Zaragoza since they are currently accounted for about 5,000 regular employees in the property of the car manufacturer. A promise. The new factory that Catl and Stellantis will raise in Figueruelas will be The largest battery producer of electric cars from our country, even ahead of Volkswagen’s in Sagunto. Then it was announced that it arrived with an investment of 4.1 billion euros under the arm. But it was also promised that it would create 3,000 direct jobs. The figure leaves the declaration of general interest (say) approved by the Government of Aragon to open the doors to the express processing of the aid, as collected in December 2024 in The Spanish. “The noise is in the media”. Since the news was known, the coming and going of the numbers on Chinese workers has raised some dust. It is not clear why CATL needs to bring almost 2,000 Chinese workers to raise their factory. Nor if that work could have been left in the close environment or if knowledge is missing for it. Similarly, it has also been put on the table how Figueruelas will face its population. Bertol pointed to The Aragon newspaper that “noise is more in the media than among our neighbors.” Explain that the idea is to start prefabricated housing near the factory facilities. And he shields that there was already a similar situation in the 80s when General Motors lifted the Opel plant (which now belongs to Stellantis) in the town. Is it legal? According to The Aragon newspaperChinese workers who will arrive in Figueruelas will not be only operators that aim to lift the factory. Intermediate controls are expected and, of course, high -ranking controls. To do this, Catl will apply the framework of the Unity Law of large companies and strategic groups (Law 14/2013) Born to promote the arrival of these macroprojects after the 2008 crisis. This law is included, for example, the streamlining of residence permits for highly qualified workers. Is Chinese labor needed? “At the start you need people who, getting out of the plane, know what to do in that factory later.” Thus defends Bertol, mayor of Figueruelas, the arrival of these workers in the city. “You don’t have to get your hands to the head for this matter, it is a logical and normal process,” he explains to The Aragon newspaper. “Catl brings battery technology, which is also the best in the world market, and brings its machines and ways of working.” Without these workers it would not be the factory in motion although, yes, it is not said how long they are expected to maintain their work in the Aragonese town or if formations will be established to local workers. Other cases. Although striking, the case of Figueruelas is not exceptional either. Catl’s landing in Germany was similarwith investments that came from the hand of Chinese workers who could train local workers but, above all, they did Full performance What was lifting. Byd has worked similarly on his arrival in Hungary. And it is something that works in the two West-Oriente directions. Following the tariff war that the United States opened with all the countries of the world, the debate of Why Apple did not make its iPhone in the United States. Beyond costs, there was a simple reason: there is a lack of people formed. Photo | Stellantis and Catl In Xataka | Nissan pointed to the electric car as a future plan. It will fire 9,000 employees and prove Toyota

Byd, Catl and Huawei fight for the final electric car charger

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“Load 400 kilometers in five minutes.” That was the phrase that starred in the media. Justly. In fact, in Xataka We also cover the news of the last great novelty of Byd, a recharge for electric cars capable of filling the batteries at the same rate as a hose full of gasoline the deposit of a combustion car. The announcement arrived last March as another sample of to what extent The Chinese electric car is one step ahead. Especially as far as recharge costs and proposals are concerned. Little more than a month later, we have already seen two other proposals that point in the same direction. China ahead in electric cars recharge When Byd presented his ultra -grape loaders, we did not imagine that a war on the technology of the recharge of electric cars in such a short time would be opened. As if they already had their prepared proposal and Byd’s announcement had accelerated the plans for their announcement, Catl and Huawei have had to show their cards. On April 21, the Chinese company Catl He presented his latest innovations in his Tech Day. There they highlighted that they already had a sodium battery (One of the great promises to reduce the electric car) that they hope to produce this year, although in the month of December. They assure that it is an energy accumulator especially resistant to cold, Another problem of this type of technology. And although they put the focus on their batteries for plug -in hybrids with autonomies of 1,500 kilometers adding what was contributed by the battery and the combustion engine, the most interesting thing was the presentation of a battery that can assume the 520 kilometers recharge in five minutes. After the presentation of Byd, From catl They rose the commitment to an energy accumulator capable of supporting 1.3 MWh loads. That is, an amount slightly higher than that presented by Byd, leaving the figure in 2.5 kilometers loaded per second. In addition, Catl not only boasted of a Recharge extremely fastit also made it clear that they were able to sustain this power at a temperature of 10 degrees below zero, from 5% to 80% of the total capacity in just 15 minutes. And they stressed that it is capable of delivering 830 kW of power (more than 1,000 hp) even when electricity is very close to completely running out. Keep in mind that the speed shown in the homologations of an electric car can differ slightly depending on the load with which the battery has. If the battery is low of loading, it usually delivers less power, the recovery or accelerations from slower standing are. These batteries, just like those of Byd, have the problem that to load that power they need a charger that can deliver that stream of energy. To do this, in ByD they say they will deploy their own network of loaders, with 4,000 recharge points capable of delivering up to 1,360 kW of power. To do this, loaders use a liquid cooling system and, to get an idea, they are figures higher than those announced so far to load electric trucks. However, these figures are lower than shown by Huawei during the presentation of its new loaders for electric cars. The Chinese company presented its new plugs, capable of delivering 1.5 MW or 20 kWh of energy at minute. That is, with the right conditions and battery, a car could load 500 kilometers of autonomy in five minutes. Huawei states that he is able to sustain this power for 15 minutes with his new loaders, which makes them especially interesting for electric trucks. In addition, they say they can operate this power between -30ºC and 60ºC and have a dynamic management of the load delivered so as not to saturate the network and balance the power delivered to the maximum possible without knocking down the electrical installation. The biggest problem of this type of loaders is that they need a huge space for installation but, saved this obstacle, except for exceptions such as byd there are no cars capable of supporting this power. Right now, the fastest recharging vehicles do between 250 and 300 kW so there are no cars that benefit from them. And, despite everything, with that power a car with a battery of 100 kWh (of the largest in the market), would be passed from 10 to 80% of the autonomy available in about 14 minutes. With that 70% of recharged autonomy in less than a quarter of an hour, a car of that size would be recovering about 350 real kilometers if it meets a realistic consumption of 20 kWh/100 km. Interesting? There are doubts that such a high load power is interesting from a purely practical point of view. This same idea is what they hold from Mercedeswho ensure that current standards are more than enough but make it clear that they are aware of the importance of offering this warranty To customers. It is not so much a substantial improvement of what is already had as a positive reinforcement to the client. Entering the fight for offering the most advanced loaders in the market is a brand image, demonstrating that you are at the forefront and give the customer a more purchase incentive although, finally, never use it or do it very promptly. Photo | Catl and Byd In Xataka | Byd set out to win the electric car race. And then a TSMC factory went on sale

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