SAIC-GM and CATL just launched an LFP battery that can charge 200km range in 5 mins
Two current titans in the electric mobility industry have utilized an existing joint venture to deliver a fresh battery technology to help EV drivers eventually go farther faster. Today, SAIC-GM and CATL launched a new lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cell with a 6C multiplier, enabling recharge rates of up to 200km in just five minutes, making it the fastest charging battery cell in China.
SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited (SAIC-GM) is a joint venture founded in Shanghai in 1997 as a 50/50 partnership. In that time, SAIC has helped American automaker GM hold a respectable chunk of the Chinese automotive market and has expanded the partnership into a separate joint venture that added Guangxi Auto (previously Wuling Group) to develop and manufacture commercial and consumer vehicles for the Chinese market under the Wuling and Baojun marques.
Meanwhile, China’s CATL has remained the world leader in battery manufacturing for seven straight years. This past March, we reported that GM was in talks with CATL to license more affordable LFP batteries and jointly develop a new manufacturing facility in North America.
Across the pond, GM’s SAIC joint venture and CATL have been doing some battery development of their own, launching a new 6C LFP
SAIC-GM and CATL deliver ultra-fast charging battery
The two joint venture partners shared details of their new fast-charging LFP battery cell today, and several Chinese media outlets, including CnEVPost, covered the event. According to the JV, the new cell, which features cheaper lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry, can enable 6C ultra-fast charging – an industry first.
As a result, SAIC-GM and CATL say the new battery cell can garner 200 km (124 miles) of range in just five minutes of DC fast charging. The “C” in the industry’s charging classification refers to the battery cell’s given charging multiplier. So, achieving 6C means that GM and CATL’s new LFP battery can be fully charged in one-sixth of an hour or 10 minutes, depending on the power output of a given DCFC.
Until now, Chinese automakers have only been able to deliver a 5.5C battery, which ZEEKR implemented in its 2025 007 sedan, hailed by its makers as the “fastest charging production car.” At the time, ZEEKR said its new LFP technology could recharge the 007 from 10-80% state-of-charge in 10.5 minutes.
With its new 6C cell, SAIC-GM and CATL look to blow those charging rates out of the water. According to the companies, the new LFP cells will be operational in 2025 within GM’s Ultium’s quasi-900V architecture, which will also feature additional design upgrades, such as a new CTP structural design and enhanced cooling technology.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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