CATL Unveils 3rd Gen Shenxing LFP Battery with Ultra Fast Charging

At its latest Tech Day showcase, Chinese battery giant CATL introduced the third iteration of its Shenxing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell, touting charging speeds that set a new benchmark for the industry. The company claims the battery can replenish from a 10 percent state of charge to 80 percent in a mere 3 minutes and 44 seconds. Furthermore, a charge from 10 percent to 98 percent takes just 6 minutes and 27 seconds, while reaching 35 percent capacity from 10 percent requires only one minute. Even in severe winter conditions at –30°C, the Shenxing battery is said to achieve a 98 percent charge in nine minutes.

The 3rd Gen Shenxing cell boasts an exceptionally low internal resistance of 0.25 milliohms—roughly half the industry standard—which is the cornerstone of its rapid energy uptake. This performance is enabled by several key innovations, including:

- Cell Shoulder Cooling Technology, which boosts cooling efficiency by approximately 20 percent.

- Precise Temperature Measurement, allowing multi-point thermal monitoring inside each individual cell.

- Self-Heating Technology, utilizing high-power pulse heating to facilitate ultra-fast charging even at low ambient temperatures.

In longevity assessments, the battery preserved over 90 percent of its initial capacity after enduring 1,000 consecutive ultra-fast charging cycles. To overcome the traditional hurdles of wintertime charging, CATL’s pulse-based self-heating mechanism swiftly brings the cells to an optimal operating window, permitting rapid charging on existing, standard charging hardware.

Alongside the Shenxing LFP cell, CATL also revealed a combined ultra-fast charging and battery-swapping ecosystem. This dual-pronged approach offers drivers added flexibility in harsh climates, giving them the option of either high-velocity plug-in charging or a complete battery exchange when the mercury falls to –30°C.

During the same presentation, CATL took the wraps off the third generation of its Qilin ternary lithium battery, which shares the same ultra-fast charging profile as the new Shenxing model. Figures from the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA) underscore CATL’s dominance in the global power battery sector, where it commands a 48.3 percent market share, placing it well ahead of BYD at 17.0 percent and CALB at 5.9 percent. Data from the China Power Battery and Electric Vehicle Association (CPCA) further indicates that CATL’s market grip strengthened to exceed 50 percent during the first quarter of 2026.