CATL’s Next-Gen Energy Storage Cell to Redefine Energy Storage

Published: 13 Jun 2025

Author: Precedence Research

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Modern Amperex Technology Co., Limited., the largest battery producer, has started the mass production and shipment of its revolutionary 587Ah battery cell, which is specifically made to serve only large-scale energy storage applications. Presented in Shanghai yesterday, this new cell has a volumetric energy density of 434Wh/L, about 10% more than its predecessor. The result of three years of painstaking R&D that had to balance regulatory compliance, system compatibility, and electrochemical performance.

The 587 Ah cell is also designed to drop-in bolt-on to standard 20-foot energy storage containers with 1,500 10 V PCS systems. Such compatibility opens CATL the possibility to simplify the number of system components by half, in terms of some 30,000 down to 18,000 system parts. This further reduces system complexity and cost and hazardous transport limits. In addition to the numbers, this sort of streamlined design will hasten large-scale rollouts in both on-grid and off-grid uses, including renewable microgrid support and utility frequency regulation steady-state. This modular, containerised strategy supports the strategy of CATL to provide plug-and-play energy storage systems.

CATL claims that this cell is not only about increased density, but it also improves reliability, life span, safety, and cost-efficiency. The results of the press conference and technical briefings show that the lifecycle investment returns grew by approximately 5% due to the improvements in electrochemistry and durability.

The cell design utilizes a three-dimensional safety structure that contains flame-retardant electrolytes, nondiffusive anodes, and heat-resistant separators. It has passed the national standards of China in overcharge tolerance, thermal runaway resistance, and nail-penetration tests with zero fire or explosion cases under stiff testing conditions. These certifications are important because CATL looks to cover industrial, commercial, and residential power storage projects with a blanket in all parts of the world, and safety is not a matter of negotiation in this case.

Executives’ Statements

Robin Zeng, Founder & Chairman, CATL

“We see sodium-ion technology potentially replacing up to half of the current LFP battery market,” demonstrating CATL's broad vision beyond just lithium-based innovation.

Gao Huan, CTO, CATL

“The second-generation fast-charging battery can enable a 520 km driving range with a five-minute charge and can reach 80% in 15 minutes in cold weather,” reflecting CATL’s rapid progress in both EV and storage chemistry.