CATL has announced that Zeekr will be the first brand to use its new Qilin batteries which is part of a 5-year strategic partnership. There will be two Zeekr models that will be using the Qilin batteries. There will be the Zeekr 009 which will be launched in the first quarter of 2023 and then there will be the Zeekr 001 which is already in production but by Q2 of 2023, it will be upgraded to the Qilin batteries which will allow it to have 1,001 km of range.
The Zeekr 09 is an all-new MPV that has been on the market since 2021. The Zeekr 001 will have its range based on the CLTC test cycle which is at least 20 per cent lesser than the WLTP test cycle.
“ZEEKR 009 with Qilin inside will be delivered to our customers in Q1 2023, and ZEEKR 001 Qilin edition will be rolled out in Q2 2023. Supported by the world-leading SEA and the cutting-edge Qilin batteries, we will be able to offer absolute driving pleasure to our customers,” said An Conghui, the CEO of Zeekr.
The new Qilin batteries are going to provide record-breaking volume utilisation efficiency with 72 per cent and an energy density of 255 Wh/kg. This high energy density is going to allow for 1,000 km of range. These new Qilin batteries are different from the CTP technology that the first-generation ones used. Instead of prismatic cells and a top cooling plate, the cells are now set across the battery in lines with internal cooling plates between the lines. This new approach towards cooling improves the heat transfer area by 4 times which allows for a long 4C charging current -- basically enabling faster charge times.
CATL says that these new batteries are 13 per cent more powerful than Tesla’s 4680 batteries and have 9 per cent better volumetric integration while proving better thermal efficiency and faster charge times.
"With the same chemical system and the same pack size, it can deliver 13% more power than the 4680 battery, accomplishing an all-around improvement in range, fast-charging, safety, service life, efficiency, and low-temperature performance,” CATL explained.
