CATL begins mass production of its Qilin batteries with 13% more power than other 4680 cells
According to recent reports out of China, the world’s leading battery manufacturer CATL has successfully achieved mass production of its energy dense Qilin batteries capable of delivering 1,000 km (621 miles) of range. CATL’s new cells utilize the 4680 pack structure and will debut on the upcoming ZEEKR 009 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
CATL remains the name to beat in EV battery development, not only in China where it is headquartered, but around the entire globe. This past February, the company emerged yet again as the largest battery market share holder on the planet for a sixth straight year, holding a near 25% larger share than second place LG Energy Solution.
In June of 2022, CATL announced its third generation cell-to-pack (CTP) “Qilin” battery cells, which utilize the 4680 pack structure popularized by automakers like Tesla. At the time, the battery developer began promising the Qilin cells would deliver record-breaking volume utilization efficiency of 72% and an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg, equating to a five-minute hot start and ten minutes of fast charging to get from 10-80% state of charge.
In late August, we learned that CATL’s new energy dense 4680 cells would make their debut on the 009 MPV, the latest EV from nascent Chinese automaker ZEEKR following a five-year strategic cooperation agreement. Those initial 009s have began rolling off ZEEKR’s assembly lines in China late last year, but customers should soon see MPVs with even greater range thanks to CATL’s Qilin batteries that are now in full-fledged production.
EVs with CATL’s 4680 batteries expected to deliver in Q2
When those ZEEKR MPVs do inevitably begin deliveries in China later this year, the 009 will be the world’s first vehicle to be powered by the 4680 Qilin batteries. Better still, local media in China is reporting that CATL’s new packs have a 13% higher capacity than other 4680 ternary batteries in the same volume.
Although ZEEKR is already delivering some versions of its 009 MPV to customers overseas, it recently shared that a high percentage of reservation holders opted to wait for the version with CATL’s CTP 3.0 Qilin packs, adding that it was surprised so many people were interested.
Who wouldn’t be interested in the prospect of up 621 miles of all-electric range? Now that mass production of the Qilin packs is underway, ZEEKR expects to begin deliveries of its 009 with the batteries next quarter. Looking ahead, other automakers including Li Auto and Geely-owned Lotus, have said they also intend to implement CATL’s 4680 Qilin batteries into their EVs.
Since the Qilin design is a pack structure, it doesn’t necessarily mean these EVs will all carry CATL’s max energy density (255Wh/kg). The packs can also house lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry capable of 160Wh/kg, per CATL.
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Japanese equipment giant Komatsu has added a not-so-giant electric excavator to its growing lineup of battery-powered construction equipment. The new Komatsu PC20E-6 electric mini excavator promises a full day of work from a single charge.
Komatsu says the design of its latest mini excavator was informed by data sourced from more than 40,000 working days of comparably-sized diesel excavators. The company found that, in 90% of its global customers’ mini excavator deployments, these vehicles are in active use for less than 3.5 hours per day.
“This defined the target for the required, reliable working time with the excavator,” reads the Komatsu web copy. “This result makes it possible for Komatsu to offer an attractively priced machine with a performance that exactly matches the requirements.”
Keeping costs down are relatively conservative specs. Komatsu chose to power the PC20E-6 with a 23.2 kWh battery pack sending electrons to an 11 kW (~15 hp), high-torque electric motors. Not exactly super impressive on paper, but the machine has an operating weight of 2,190 kg and enough juice for up to four (4) hours of continuous operation.
More than enough, in other words, to have completed 90% of of those 40,000 work days the company analyzed.
Getting it done
If, for some reason, that four hours’ runtime isn’t enough, an on-board charging option for 230V and 3kW charging power compatible with various plug adapters is standard, with an external DC quick charger for 400V and 12 kW charging as optional. In either case, it won’t be long before the machine is back at work.
To help the later adopters sleep well about their battery-powered investments, the PC20E-6 ships with Komatsu’s E-Support maintenance program, which includes free scheduled maintenance by a Komatsu-trained technician, a 3 year/2,000 hour warranty on the machine, plus a 5 year/10,000 hour warranty on the electric driveline. The company says the battery should last 10 years.
“The Komatsu E-Support customer program is included free of charge with every market-ready electric mini excavator and offers exclusive machine support,” said Emanuele Viel, Group Manager Utility at Komatsu Europe. “The bottom line is that the risk for the end customer is significantly reduced, especially when it comes to exploring the electrification advances in the industry.”
Komatsu hasn’t released official pricing quite yet, but has revealed that the P20E-6 will begin series production this October.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Komatsu.
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Tesla has unexpectedly terminated a contractor’s contract at Gigafactory Texas, resulting in the layoff of 82 workers who were supporting the automaker’s production at the giant factory in Austin.
MPW Industrial Services Inc., an Ohio-based industrial service provider specializing in cleaning and facility management, has issued a new WARN notice, confirming that it will lay off 82 workers in Texas due to Tesla unexpectedly ending its contract with the company.
Here are the details from the WARN notice:
- State / agency: Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
- Notice date: August 27, 2025.
- Employees affected: 82
- Likely effective date: September 1, 2025
- Context from the filing/letter: layoffs tied to an unexpected termination of a major customer contract (Tesla—Gigafactory Texas, 1 Tesla Road); positions include 61 technicians, 7 team leads, 7 supervisors, 7 managers; no bumping rights; workers not union-represented.
In April 2024, Tesla initiated waves of layoffs at the plant, resulting in the dismissal of more than 2,000 employees in Austin, Texas.
Since then, Tesla’s sales have been in a steady decline. While the automaker is expected to have a strong quarter in the US in Q3 due to the end of the tax credit, sales are expected to decline further in Q4 and the first half of 2026.
Many industry watchers have expected Tesla to initiate further layoffs due to the situation.
Electrek’s Take
We may be seeing the beginnings of a new wave of layoffs at Tesla, as the automaker typically starts with contractors.
To be fair, Tesla could also potentially end the contract unexpectedly for other reasons, but the timing does align with the need to cut costs and staff ahead of an inevitable downturn in US EV sales.
I think it’s inevitable that we start seeing some layoffs. I think Tesla will have to slow down production in the US to avoid creating an oversupply, especially in Q4-Q1.
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