CATL launched the Freevoy battery in Beijing today, dedicated to plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). It supports 4C fast charging and provides a more than 400 km range for a “BEV-like” experience, the company claims.
PHEVs have become very popular in China in the past year, with Li Auto being the pioneer. Until recently, its lineup consisted of range-extended vehicles only. BYD follows the trend, as the PHEV share in its sales has grown significantly in recent months.
CATL wants to be part of this PHEV wave in China, and the new Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery will offer an experience like in an all-electric car for PHEVs and EREVs.
“With just 10 minutes of charging, you can achieve a range of over 280 km, thanks to its 4C supercharging capabilities, effectively addressing concerns about slow charging. Furthermore, it ensures dependable performance even in cold conditions—perfect for the Nordic region, where cold weather can often hinder performance,” CATL announced.
An electric range-extended vehicle (EREV) is a type of PHEV in which ICE works as a range extender. The combustion engine is not connected to the wheels; it only charges the battery or helps the electric motor.
The C-rate measures how quickly a battery is charged or discharged. For example, a 1C rate means the battery can be fully charged from 0 to 100% in one hour. Analogically, the 4C rate means the battery can be fully charged four times in an hour or once in 15 minutes.
In 2024 (January – September), domestic sales of PHEVs in China were 3 million vehicles, up 80% from last year. For context, BEV sold 4.1 million vehicles in this period, which is only 18% up year-on-year.
More Freevoy specs
CATL’s new Freevoy battery includes a “nanoscale protective layer” and uses high-activity excited state particle technology in the cathode material, supporting multi-level power control. The battery also integrates sodium-ion technology, enabling it to discharge in extremely cold temperatures to -40°C and charge in conditions as low as -30°C.
For safety, the battery utilizes NP2.0 technology, which includes active smoke isolation and a high-pressure system. This reduces the defect rate to the PPB level (the defect rate at the PPB level means that for every billion cells or components produced, only a few are defective).
Several Li Auto, Avatr, Deepal, Changan, and Neta models already use the Freevoy battery. Automakers such as Chery, SAIC, and Geely will also adopt it in their PHEV and EREV models.
Chinese battery giant controlled 44% of the domestic market in September, installing 23.99 GWh battery capacity into electric vehicles, according to China EV DataTracker.
