China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) has made a groundbreaking announcement with the launch of the Tianxing B-Series electric bus battery. This new offering promises an extraordinary 15-year lifespan and a capacity to cover up to 932,000 miles, setting new benchmarks in the electric bus industry.
Boasting an energy density of 175 Wh/kg, the Tianxing B-Series battery comes from CATL’s commercial vehicle battery brand, Tectrans, which was debuted in July. The company has emphasized that the battery is a specially designed solution for the commercial vehicle sector, specifically electric buses.
One of the standout features of this battery is its resilience. It can survive 72 hours of water immersion, backed by its IP69 rating. This makes it exceptionally durable under harsh conditions—an essential trait for commercial fleet operations.
CATL’s innovative approach goes beyond just the robust build. The company employs dual-layer large-surface liquid cooling technology, combined with advanced thermal management systems, to significantly improve the range and reduce the overall weight of the battery. The battery employs CTP (Cell to Pack) 3.0 technology that optimizes the topological structure for better grouping efficiency.
The product also incorporates pre-lithiation technology, which involves adding extra lithium to the cell to fill the gaps that form during initial charging cycles. This technique not only enhances the battery’s overall lifespan but also combats the rapid degradation usually observed in the early cycles. As a result, the battery shows no signs of degradation after 1,000 cycles, giving CATL the confidence to offer a 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) 15-year warranty on the battery pack.
This remarkable durability has caught the attention of leading bus manufacturers such as Yutong, which will be the first to integrate these new battery cells into their electric buses.
CATL is not new to setting milestones in the battery technology industry. As of mid-2024, the company held a 37.6 percent global market share, reaffirming its position as the industry’s largest power battery maker. The Tianxing B-Series battery is yet another example of CATL’s commitment to pushing the envelope in commercial vehicle battery technology.
The company has previously emphasized four key pillars for its commercial vehicle batteries: super safety, super-fast charging, super-long service life, and super-long range. The Tianxing B-Series embodies these principles, aiming to meet the comprehensive needs of commercial vehicle operators, including high efficiency and profitability.
By embracing open innovation systems and advancing technological enhancements, CATL aims to deliver significant improvements in user experience. As the commercial vehicle industry enters a promising phase of development, CATL’s innovations are set to maximize the sector’s value through technological advancements and strategic planning.
With all these cutting-edge features, it’s clear that the Tianxing B-Series battery is poised to transform the electric bus market, offering unparalleled longevity, efficiency, and performance.