Chinese battery supplier CATL has launched a new technology it’s labeling as a “super hybrid battery,” promising a pure electric range in plug-in hybrids (PHEV) that will outperform many entry-level battery electric vehicles (BEV). Officially dubbed the Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery, the claims are wild, and point to a battery tech that answers almost all the issues faced by current battery technology, without resorting to solid-state tech – something CATL has stated is not as viable as we’ve been led to believe.
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Without divulging the capacity of the Freevoy battery pack, CATL claims it will enable PHEVs and ‘extended-range EVs’ (EREVs) – those with a range extender like the Scout Motors Traveler Harvester and the Ram 1500 Ramcharger – to travel up to 250 miles on electricity alone, enabling a week’s worth of driving range on a single charge. The tech company also claims greater charging speeds (174 miles in just 10 minutes of charging) and the ability to operate in extremely cold environments, maintaining a “seamless driving experience” at temperatures as low as -4°F.
For reference, entry-level EVs in the US like the Fiat 500e have an electric range of 149 miles, while the current Mini Electric Hardtop can only manage 114 miles.
CATL
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited – better known as CATL – is a Chinese technology company and battery manufacturer responsible for approximately 40% of the global EV battery supply. Founded in 1999, it has grown to become a world leader in battery technologies, establishing partnerships with global brands like BMW, Tesla, and Volkswagen.
The Secret Behind The ‘Super Hybrid’ Battery
The Freevoy battery aims to solve three key issues commonly associated with plug-in hybrids and EREVs:
- Short range
- Slow charging
- Reduced low-temperature performance
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To do this, CATL employs a surface modification technology on the cathode of the battery paired with a high-voltage electrolyte formulation that creates a nano protective layer. Sounds complex? It is, but it basically prevents unwanted reactions from using up energy that can be better used to propel the car, making the battery more efficient in both charging and discharge.
CATL combines the best of its lithium-ion development with that of sodium-ion technology, mixing series and parallel connections between the cells to improve performance across a wide range of scenarios.
It’s not all hardware-based, though. CATL’s ‘SOC full-scene high-precision model’ and its BMS algorithm and hardware have together increased the accuracy of the battery management systems by as much as 40%, and through predictive algorithms, has improved vehicle performance by 20% through the ability to predict charge- and discharge characteristics more accurately.
Charging Rates Equal To The Best EVs
Using its 4C ultra-fast charging technology, CATL claims the Freevoy battery can be charged at the same rates as some of the fastest-charging EVs around. The claimed rate of 174 miles in just 10 minutes is approximately the same as the speeds of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Audi RS e-tron GT and lags only behind the best EVs in the business like the Lucid Air and Rimac Nevera for charge speed.
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Low-Temperature Performance Relies On Sodium-Ion Technology
As for the claims of low-temperature performance, this is enabled thanks to the use of sodium-ion technology in Freevoy, which can effectively discharge in temperatures as low as -40°F, charge at up to -22°F, and have zero negative impact on performance at -4°F. Low-temperature driving range is claimed to be improved by 5%.
CATL controls nearly 40% of the world’s EV battery market, working with major OEMs like Tesla, BMW, Ford, and VW. But none of these brands has been earmarked to receive the Freevoy technology, and instead, CATL says by 2025, 30 hybrid vehicles from Chinese brands including Geely and Chery will launch with the Freevoy technology. Will it launch in other global brands? Quite probably, but with US legislation disincentivizing the use of Chinese-made batteries, don’t expect to see this tech arriving in the US anytime soon. That said, Ford has plans to build a local battery plant in Michigan with CATL, that may see the latter’s technology come to the US.
