On April 21, 2026, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) revealed its third-generation Qilin battery during the company's annual Tech Day presentation. The newly developed battery supports 10C continuous charging and 15C peak charging speeds, making it possible to achieve an electric driving range of over 1,000 kilometers on a full charge.

The ternary lithium cells featured in this design achieve a volumetric energy density of 600 Wh/L and a gravimetric energy density of 280 Wh/kg. A 125 kWh battery pack constructed using this chemistry weighs roughly 625 kg, which is 255 kg less than a comparable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack. This reduction in mass yields notable improvements in vehicle dynamics:

- 0–100 km/h acceleration time improved by 0.6 seconds

- Overtaking maneuver window decreased by 12 percent

- Moose test entry velocity increased by 8 percent

- Body roll angle reduced by 6.5 percent

- Emergency avoidance capability boosted by 15–25 percent

- Braking distance from 100 km/h to 0 shortened by 1.44 meters

The lighter pack also contributes to extended longevity for various chassis components. Parts such as brakes, suspension joints, and rubber bushings are projected to see a 40 percent increase in service life. Tire durability improves by approximately 30 percent, raising the expected lifespan from 30,000–40,000 km to 40,000–50,000 km. Moreover, the pack's streamlined form factor reduces overall volume by 112 liters—roughly the equivalent of three standard carry-on suitcases—and creates an additional 18 mm of headroom for occupants.

In terms of performance output, the Qilin track-oriented battery is capable of sustaining continuous discharge power up to 3,000 kW. It also incorporates CATL's thermal-electric separation architecture, which physically isolates the thermal management circuit from the electrical pathway to bolster both safety and operational efficiency.

During the same event, CATL also presented its condensed matter battery, a semi-solid-state cell design featuring a gravimetric energy density of 350 Wh/kg and a volumetric density of 760 Wh/L. Battery packs based on this technology weigh less than 650 kg, enabling executive sedans to reach ranges of up to 1,500 km and full-size SUVs up to 1,000 km. While this battery chemistry is already being utilized in eVTOL aircraft, CATL is now preparing it for deployment in passenger vehicle applications.