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Qilin (CTP 3.0)

by CATLCN

ScalingStage 5 of 5

In production and supplied to multiple automakers since 2023.

Updated 16 May 2023Checked 25 Sep0 updates this week

Milestones

No announced next step
  1. Qilin unveiledJun 2022Complete.
  2. First vehicle deliveries with Qilin packs2023Complete.
  3. Multiple OEMs adopt Qilin2024Complete.

Most important updates

  • 16 May 2023
  • 18 Apr 2023
  • 21 Mar 2023
  • 27 Aug 2022
  • 23 Jun 2022

Current obstacles

  • RepairabilityModule-free packs are harder to repair or partly replace after damage.

Physics limits

  • Packaging can't beat the cells insideCell-to-pack only removes dead weight. Once most of the pack is cells, chemistry sets the ceiling, and nickel lithium-ion cells are already near ~300 Wh/kg.
  • Charge too fast and lithium plates as metalAbove a certain rate, lithium ions pile up on the graphite surface as metal instead of slotting in, which wears the cell and can short it; cold makes this worse.
  • Charging heat grows with current squaredResistive heat scales with current squared, so charging at 4C makes about 16 times the heat of 1C; cooling, not chemistry, often limits charge speed.

How it works

3 parts
A large prismatic lithium cell: Qilin packs line up cells of this can-like shape directly, with cooling plates between them and no modules
A large prismatic lithium cell: Qilin packs line up cells of this can-like shape directly, with cooling plates between them and no modulesPhoto: Aeroid · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens commons.wikimedia.org)
Cell-to-pack

No modules

Cells go straight into the pack instead of into modules first, so about 72% of the pack's volume is cells, well above older designs.

Cooling

Cooling plates between cells

Liquid-cooled plates sit between cells instead of underneath, about four times the cooling area, so cells can fast-charge without overheating.

Output

More energy per pack

CATL quotes up to 255 Wh/kg at pack level with nickel cells and 160 Wh/kg with LFP, enough for about 1,000 km in some cars.

Spec sheet

SpecQilin (CTP 3.0)
Pack energy density (ternary)255 Wh/kgR (reported)
Volume utilisation~72%R (reported)

R reported by the company

Papers & demos

1 item
  1. Jun 2022demo
    Qilin CTP 3.0 battery (opens catl.com)Showed a module-free pack reaching 255 Wh/kg with nickel-based cells.

Update log

5 updates

Tue 16 May 2023

  • Minor: PressCommercial

Tue 18 Apr 2023

  • Minor: PressCommercial

Tue 21 Mar 2023

  • Major: PressManufacturing

Sat 27 Aug 2022

  • Minor: PressCommercial

Thu 23 Jun 2022

  • Major: PressHardware

About CATL

The team behind Qilin (CTP 3.0)

CATL

EV and grid batteries, LFP, sodium-ion, cell-to-pack

China's CATL is the world's largest battery maker, with over a third of the global EV battery market. It supplies Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen and most Chinese carmakers, and licenses LFP tech to Ford. Listed in Shenzhen and, since May 2025, Hong Kong.

  • EV battery leader with ~37-38% global market share in 2024-2025 (SNE Research).
  • Launched Naxtra, a lithium-free 175 Wh/kg sodium-ion cell, in April 2025 for cars and storage.
  • Raised ~$4.6B in a May 2025 Hong Kong listing, partly to fund its plant in Debrecen, Hungary.

catl.com (opens catl.com)Company profile →

Founded
201115 yrs
Headquarters
China
Status
Public
Listed
300750 (opens google.com)SZSE
Valuation
public
Works in
EnergyBatteriesVehiclesMaterials
Coverage
2 programs · 14 updateslatest 16 Jul 2026checked 25 Sep
Customers
TeslaBMW (opens bmwgroup.com)
Partners
Ford (opens fromtheroad.ford.com)Stellantis (opens stellantis.com)
People
Robin Zeng (Zeng Yuqun) (opens en.wikipedia.org)Founder & Chairman
Primer