China unveils new technology that increases battery life to 16 years, opening up a revolution for electric vehicles

This technology could create a battery that performs better than even the best lithium-ion batteries available today.

According to an April announcement from battery developer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the battery will not lose more than 20 percent of its initial capacity after 1.5 million kilometers of travel with proper maintenance. Molecular stability combined with improvements in CATL’s battery management and thermal management systems allow the new lithium-metal phosphate (LFP) battery to last up to 16 years, with no loss of any percentage of its capacity after the first 1,000 charge cycles.

CALT is expected to produce and supply the new LFP batteries for electric trucks and electric buses of Yutung – one of the largest bus manufacturers in China. Previously, Yutung introduced another battery with a 10-year lifespan and a range of 1 million kilometers.

In terms of innovation, CATL’s new battery promises extreme durability. It could be a game-changer in the face of continued growth in electric vehicles. The new battery could significantly reduce operating costs while also extending the range of electric vehicles on long drives. In addition, not having to replace batteries as often would reduce the waste of resources needed to produce new batteries. To produce batteries for electric vehicles, manufacturers must mine lithium, cobalt and other metals from the ground – which are part of the cause of global warming.