At this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, one of China’s leaders in the electric vehicle sector, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), introduced a new wave of battery technologies. However, none of the battery developments are likely to be available in the U.S. anytime soon as a result of ongoing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
What new technology did CATL unveil at the Shanghai Auto Show?
During this international automotive showcase in China, CATL revealed new EV battery innovations it said are cheaper, lighter, faster to charge and able to extend driving ranges.
The company, which supplies automakers like Tesla and General Motors, developed a battery which can power a vehicle for over 300 miles in just five minutes of charging. This breakthrough could bring EV charging times closer to those of traditional gasoline refueling, a longstanding goal in the industry.
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CATL also revealed what it claimed to be the first commercially viable EV battery that does not use graphite, a standard component in most lithium-ion batteries. By removing graphite, the company said it has improved energy absorption by 60% while lowering production costs.
These secondary batteries are intended to support the main power source, offering extended travel ranges on a single charge. The company said it expects to begin mass production of these systems within the next two to three years.
Why are these products unlikely to be sold in the US?
American consumers are unlikely to benefit from CATL’s technology in the near term as current U.S. trade policies impose steep tariffs on Chinese EVs and components. Duties under the Biden administration already stood at 100% and further tariffs imposed during the Trump administration raised rates by an additional 145%, effectively restricting Chinese electric vehicles and parts from entering the American market.
Recent remarks by President Donald Trump suggested a possible shift in stance. He indicated openness to reducing these tariffs “substantially” according to CNN, a proposal which China’s Foreign Ministry says its “doors are wide open” to discussing.
