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China-based Zeker announced on Saturday that it will be the first global brand to benefit from CATL, the world’s largest supplier of EV batteries, with its Killin battery and third-generation cell-to-pack technology.
The battery technology will first be used in the Zeker 009, which it calls “the world’s first electric luxury MPV,” with deliveries due in the first quarter of 2023. A long-riding crossover wagon with plenty of passenger space, a driving range of over 1000 km (621 mi) per charge.
CATL first announced the new cell-to-pack technology in April, claiming it delivers 13% more power per volume than Tesla’s 4680 format cells, as well as an impressive energy density of 255 Wh/kg with current technology lithium-ion cells and 160 Wh/kg with LFP cells.
Simply put, it’s a step up from cell-to-package technology. Usually, EV cells are packaged into modules and placed into packages, the technology makes some technological leaps to ensure greater control and cooling and make the modules unnecessary.
CATL third-generation cell-to-package technology
With lithium-ion cells, CATL says the technology will allow EVs to easily pack more cells into a smaller size and deliver a range of more than 1,000 km (621 miles) “in a breeze,” and points to the future. to other future cell chemistry with positions such as sodium-ion.
CATL previously announced a partnership and licensing deal with Hyundai Mobis, opening the door for the technology to be used in future Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models, but none of those brands have yet confirmed its use in production models.
It’s not just cell-to-pack technology that CATL has deployed this year. The new Evogo battery swapping technology enables one-minute swapping, according to the battery company. So far, it plans to launch that technology in 10 Chinese cities. Geely is currently testing its own battery swapping as part of the Kaokao ride-hailing service and possibly the budget Geometry EV brand, so it may not have the chance to use that technology.
Zeekr Shuttle for Waymo’s self-driving service
Zeekr was established in March 2021 as a “premium electric car company” and is part of Geely, a large industrial company in its own right, with various automotive brands including Volvo, Polestar and Lotus Cars. While all of these brands have their own engineering resources and manufacturing footprints, Geely’s Zikr aims to be a little different, based on what it calls a “value light operations strategy” that looks to key technology suppliers and possibly contract manufacturing partners. Future meeting.
However, Zeekr 001 opened late last year, opting for its own “intelligent factory” in Ningbo, China, with extensive robotics, automated ultrasound inspection and “intelligent self-adaptation.
First Zeekr 001 rolled off the line at the plant in Ningbo, China – October 2021.
First Zeekr 001 rolls off the line at a plant in Ningbo, China – October 2021
First Zeekr 001 rolls off the line at a plant in Ningbo, China – October 2021
Another brand that comes to mind with an asset-light strategy is Fisker, which is looking to Magnan for some of the technology and engineering in its Ocean EV, along with assembly, and to Foxconn for its future Peer City EV.
Building on that business model, Zeker previously announced partnerships with Waymo on a ride-hailing vehicle and with Mobileye on a consumer-focused Level 4 autonomous EV by 2024. Its Zeekr 001 is based on Geely’s SEA architecture, also Polestar 3 among others.
Geely said its plans for Zeiker are initially focused on the Chinese market, but it will also consider export opportunities.
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