CATL has announced that its aviation battery system designed for passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has successfully completed a demanding thermal runaway propagation test. During the evaluation, two adjacent prismatic battery cells, each featuring an energy density of 350 Wh/kg, were intentionally triggered at multiple locations within the battery pack, including both central and corner areas. The results showed that thermal runaway did not spread beyond the activated cells, demonstrating strong safety performance.

The entire process, covering manufacturing, quality inspection, and testing, was conducted under the supervision of representatives from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The achievement brings the battery system closer to meeting the strict safety standards required for civil aviation applications. Thermal runaway propagation remains one of the most significant challenges for high-energy-density batteries, particularly in aviation, where safety requirements are far more demanding than in conventional applications. While existing industry tests generally focus on triggering a single cell, CATL’s successful demonstration under a dual-cell thermal event highlights a higher level of battery safety protection.

Produced at CATL’s manufacturing facility in Ningde, Fujian province, the aviation battery system has now reached the stage of readiness for mass production. The technology will be used in the first passenger eVTOL aircraft models developed by Autoflight, a Shanghai-based electric aviation company backed by CATL through a strategic investment. The collaboration follows a 2024 investment agreement in which CATL committed several hundred million dollars to Autoflight, representing the battery giant’s first publicly disclosed investment in the electric aviation industry.

In 2025, CATL and Autoflight also unveiled a floating vertiport concept, featuring a battery-powered vessel equipped with an eVTOL landing platform, photovoltaic power generation, energy storage, and charging facilities. The project was presented as a pioneering integrated sea-air transportation and energy solution.

Beyond the aviation sector, CATL is continuing to expand its high-performance battery technologies into electric ships and marine energy applications, further extending its influence beyond electric vehicles. Data from SNE Research showed that CATL supplied 242.7 GWh of EV batteries globally in the first half of 2026, accounting for nearly 40% of worldwide electric vehicle battery installations and maintaining its leading position in the global battery market.

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