China-based CATL unveils its new battery with a density of up to 500Wh/kg. (Photo by CATL)

Chinese battery company CATL has announced the creation of a condensed battery with an energy density of up to 500Wh/kg. The company claims this will enable the powering of passenger aircraft.

In a statement, CATL said that the battery was created at Auto Shanghai. The company claims that it is working with “partners” to develop electric passenger aircraft powered by the battery.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

According to the company, the lithium-ion batteries “leverage highly conductive biomimetic condensed state electrolytes to construct a micron-level self-adaptive net structure”. However, specific details on the batteries’ manufacture remain vague.

Until now, attempts to develop commercial-scale electric aircraft have struggled to find batteries able to provide the same amount of energy for their weight as aviation fuel. Alongside this, while fuel can be stored in irregularly-shaped tanks and loses weight as flights progress, batteries are bulky and maintain their mass throughout a journey. Before now the only electric passenger aircraft to be successfully developed has a total capacity of nine people.

Developers have taken a growing interest in semi-solid batteries such as  CATL’s new product. Semi-solid batteries have been able to address the stability of chemical interactions and the scale of manufacturing, which have held developments back.

The company claims that its battery incorporates new materials for the anode and cathode, a “condensed electrolyte” and new separators.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Wu Kai, CATL’s scientist in chief, told reporters that it will be able to start mass production of the condensed matter battery for electric vehicle uses later this year.

A CATL spokesperson said: “The launch of condensed batteries will usher in an era of universal electrification of sea, land and air transportation, open up more possibilities of the development of the industry, and promote the achieving of the global carbon neutrality goals at an earlier date”.

Battery investor James Firth said in a tweet: “What do we not know yet is the cost of these cells, if any critical materials are used, how developed the supply chains for these components are, what the cycle life of the cells are”.

Power Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Power Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Recognised with three 2025 Power Technology Excellence Awards, Hover Energy is at the forefront of intelligent microgrids and distributed renewables. Explore how its AI-enabled Microgrid Management System™ , strategic partnerships and networked microgrids are rebuilding the grid from the ground up for a more flexible, resilient energy future.

Discover the Impact