Hongqi has completed performance tests for a new generation of ultra-fast charging battery at 25 degrees Celsius together with Lishen Battery and FAW’s battery subsidiary, China Automotive New Energy Battery Technology. The companies aim to significantly reduce charging times to make electric vehicles more practical and address remaining barriers to wider adoption.
The new battery achieves a peak charging rate of 12C, allowing it to charge at up to twelve times its nominal capacity. To enable this, the developers combined a new anode with a specially formulated electrolyte to accelerate lithium-ion transport. They also applied additional measures, including a carbon-swelling coating and bulk doping, reducing the cell’s internal resistance by 15% compared to conventional cells based on the same chemistry.
A key challenge posed by extremely high charging currents is the resulting thermal stress, which Hongqi addresses with an intelligent, uniform liquid cooling system. This system maintains the temperature difference across the entire battery pack within a narrow range of no more than three degrees Celsius during charging. An adaptive temperature management system further adjusts flexibly to driving and parking conditions to maximise efficiency and minimise the energy required for cooling.
