On April 21, 2026, CATL officially launched its third-generation Qilin battery during the company’s 2026 CATL Tech Day event. The new battery features equivalent 10C and peak 15C ultra-fast charging capabilities, with a driving range exceeding 1,000 km.

The ternary lithium battery boasts a volumetric energy density of 600Wh/L and a gravimetric energy density of 280Wh/kg.

It can achieve the same charging speed as the third-generation Shenxing battery announced by CATL at the same launch event, while being lighter. The 125kWh battery pack weighs 625kg, representing a 255kg weight reduction compared to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Performance enhancements

The lightweight design delivers performance improvements for vehicles equipped with the new battery instead of the heavier LFP battery:

• 0-100 km/h acceleration reduced by 0.6 seconds
• Overtaking parallel hazard window decreased by 12%
• Moose test speed increased by 8%
• Body roll angle reduced by 6.5%
• Emergency avoidance capability improved by 15-25%
• 100-0 km/h braking distance shortened by 1.44 meters

Component longevity benefits

The weight reduction extends the lifespan of various vehicle components:

• Critical chassis components (braking system, suspension system, rubber bushings) see a 40% lifespan increase
• Tire life extended by 30%, increasing from 30,000-40,000 km to 40,000-50,000 km

Space efficiency

The battery’s compact design, reduced by 112L (equivalent to three standard 20-inch suitcases), provides passengers with an additional 18mm of headroom.

Technical specifications

The third-generation Qilin track battery supports 10C equivalent charging with peak discharge power reaching 3,000kW. The battery features CATL’s thermal-electric separation technology, which separates thermal management from electrical circuits for improved safety and efficiency.

Condensed matter battery also unveiled

At the event, CATL introduced its Qilin condensed matter battery, featuring a gravimetric energy density of 350Wh/kg and a volumetric energy density of 760Wh/L. The battery pack weighs less than 650kg, enabling executive-class sedans to achieve a 1,500 km range and full-size SUVs to reach 1,000 km range.

CATL’s condensed battery is actually what other manufacturers call a semi-solid-state or liquid-solid battery. This battery is already being used in eVTOLs produced by AutoFlight, a company CATL invested in, and now CATL wants to apply it to passenger vehicles.

Editor’s comment

If BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0 can go toe-to-toe with CATL in the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) sector, CATL simply has no rivals in the ternary lithium battery field. It holds over 80% of the ternary lithium market share, meaning its competitors’ shares are basically negligible.

While BYD has its second-generation LFP Blade Battery, CATL has its third-generation LFP Shenxing Battery. However, while CATL has its third-generation ternary lithium Qilin Battery, BYD has no equivalent product to offer.

At this press conference, CATL boldly claimed that making a battery pack over 750kg is a waste—a statement that’s hard not to see as a jab at some of BYD’s high-capacity LFP batteries.