Tesla and CATL developing fast-charging batteries, probably for the $25,000 EV

China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) battery maker CATL is working with electric car company Tesla to develop fast-charging batteries for next-gen vehicles.

Robin Zeng, CATL’s chairman said that there’s an active development going on with Tesla on battery technologies, particularly on new electrochemical structures. This new collaboration aims to achieve fast charging cells for electric cars.

It’s reported that this collab might be aiming at the $25,000 EV. This has been an ambitious project in Tesla’s next phase of car launch.

Tesla chief Elon Musk said earlier this year that a new low-cost EV could launch next year (2025). And the company is working with supply chain and production preparations.

With a slowdown in EV demand, companies finding a way through less-priced EV platforms. That includes rescaling plans for existing EV model expansion.

The requirement for a low-priced EV also becomes imminent as Chinese car companies such as BYD are offering the cheapest available EV in the market. This poses a great challenge to the well-established names not only in China but in Europe as well.

“There’s always room for cost reduction depending on what the $25,000 car’s aim is,” Zeng told media on Monday. He further explained that CATL’s batteries for robotaxis are available at less cost and have a long battery life.

The CATL leader revealed that his company is supplying equipment to Tesla Nevada. Past report on this matter suggests that the carmaker wants to expand the battery plant using Chinese machinery.

However, Tesla’s chief later denied these speculations at that time. The EV company has been using battery packs from CATL and BYD for its Tesla models manufactured in China. It cannot do the same for cars sold in the U.S. as they’ll lose Federal tax subsidies.

(source – Bloomberg)