China’s battery giant CATL has unveiled Shenxing, the world’s first 4C superfast charging LFP battery, capable of delivering 400 km of driving range with a 10-minute charge as well as a range of over 700 km on a single full charge.

CATL says the new fast-charging LFP battery incorporates in-house technology, including fast ion ring technology, a new superconducting electrolyte formulation, and an ultra-thin and safer separator.

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, LFC batteries are cheaper and more durable in many cases. However, their performance drops in the cold. CATL says these issues are now fixed with its new fast-charging battery. At room temperature, Shenxing can charge to 80% SOC in 10 minutes, a 0-80% charge in just 30 minutes in temperatures as low as -10°C, and uncompromised 0-100 kph acceleration performance even at low temperatures.

In addition to achieving 4C superfast charging, Shenxing also achieves long driving range, fast charging over a wide range of temperatures and a high level of safety through structure innovation and leveraging intelligent algorithms.

Mass production of Shenxing will be achieved by the end of this year, and electric vehicles equipped with Shenxing will be available on the market in the first quarter of next year. The first EV maker to use Shenxing will be Avatr, a joint venture of CATL and Changan with Huawei.

CATL, which counts Tesla as its biggest client, has been losing market share to BYD, a major automaker that powers all its EVs with its own batteries.