CATL unveils Shenxing Pro LFP battery for Europe

CATL has presented its Shenxing Pro battery at the IAA Mobility – an LFP cell designed specifically to meet Europe’s e-mobility requirements. The energy storage system will launch in two versions – one focused on long range and one on ultra-fast charging.

CATL held a press conference on the eve of the IAA Mobility to spotlight its new Shenxing Pro battery in Munich. The product name is already familiar: in spring, CATL introduced the second generation of its Shenxing battery at its “Super Tech Day.” The Chinese battery maker has now added the “Pro” suffix to designate a variant tailored for the European market. The two new packs are called the “Shenxing Pro Super Long Life & Long Range Battery” and the “Shenxing Pro Super-Fast Charging Battery.”

The names already indicate each variant’s focus. According to CATL, the Long Range version offers a WLTP range of 758 kilometres with a service life of twelve years or one million kilometres. The company says the battery shows only nine per cent degradation after the first 200,000 kilometres. “It is perfectly tailored to support Europe’s leasing markets,” CATL said. Fleet operators are therefore likely to be a key focus of the European strategy.

The second version, the Super-Fast Charging battery, offers a WLTP range of 683 kilometres and a peak charging rate of 12C. This should enable drivers to recharge 478 kilometres of WLTP range in just ten minutes. Even at a 20 per cent state of charge, the pack can still deliver 830 kW to the motor, enabling rapid acceleration – “0 to 100 kph in just 2.5 seconds.” CATL also claims the pack performs reliably in extreme cold. The company did not disclose degradation figures but confirmed a warranty of ten years or 240,000 kilometres.

CATL cites several features of the Shenxing Pro, including a cell-to-body approach (without module or pack levels) and a so-called wave cell design, said to improve energy integration and structural stability. Details remain vague, but Car News China reports the new design allows cooling systems and mounting from any direction.

Both versions also integrate CATL’s NP 3.0 system. Short for “No Propagation 3.0,” the mechanism is designed to maintain high-voltage supply for over an hour even in the event of thermal runaway – without smoke or open fire. According to CATL, the Shenxing Pro is the first LFP product to offer NP 3.0 at system level. The launch follows seven years of development in this area.

That said, the fast-charging LFP battery for Europe still falls short of its Chinese counterpart. The second-generation Shenxing battery unveiled earlier this year also supports 12C charging, but promises up to 520 kilometres of range in just five minutes under China’s CLTC cycle. In terms of kilometres added, the European pack (478 km under WLTP) compares well, since WLTP is more conservative – but those kilometres are recharged in ten minutes rather than five. In any case, such extreme charging performance will not be possible at all stations, as charging infrastructure must also support these power levels.

CATL also reiterated its “In Europe, for Europe” strategy at the press conference. The group currently operates two European plants, with a third in planning. The first opened in Erfurt in 2018. The second is under construction in Debrecen, Hungary, and, according to CATL, will begin production in early 2026. The third, a €4.1-billion joint venture with Stellantis in Spain, was announced in 2024.

prnewswire.co.uk, x.com, carnewschina.com, cnevpost.com, reuters.com (Hungary)

This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.