What Do “Equivalent 10C” and “Peak 15C” Mean in CATL Shenxing III Batteries?

1. Understanding the C-Rate Concept

The C-rate is a unit used to describe the charge and discharge rate of a battery. It is defined as the ratio between the charging current and the battery’s nominal capacity.

• 1C means the battery can be fully charged in 1 hour
• 10C means the charging current is ten times the battery capacity, theoretically allowing a full charge in approximately 6 minutes

2. Difference Between “Equivalent 10C” and “Peak 15C”

In the Shenxing III battery system, the terms “Equivalent 10C” and “Peak 15C” have distinct meanings:

➤ Equivalent 10C

This refers to the average charging rate over the entire charging process.

It means that, from low state-of-charge (SOC) to high SOC, the battery can maintain a charging speed close to 10C, rather than briefly reaching high speed and then significantly slowing down.

➤ Peak 15C

This refers to the maximum instantaneous charging rate that the battery can reach.

It typically occurs during:

• The initial charging stage
• Specific SOC ranges under optimal conditions

In industry practice, many manufacturers only promote peak charging rates. By providing both “equivalent average” and “peak” values, Shenxing III demonstrates that its fast-charging capability remains consistently high throughout the charging cycle, rather than being limited to short bursts.

3. Practical Impact on Users

① Ultra-Fast Charging Speed (Approaching Refueling Experience)

Test data shows that under normal temperature conditions, vehicles equipped with Shenxing III batteries can achieve:

• Charging from 10% to 35% in just 1 minute
• Charging from 10% to 80% in 3 minutes 44 seconds
• Charging from 10% to 98% in 6 minutes 27 seconds

At peak performance, the battery can gain approximately 3.3 km of driving range per second.

In practical scenarios, such as charging from 30% to 80%, the process may take only 2–3 minutes, bringing the charging experience close to that of refueling conventional fuel vehicles.

② Fast Charging with Long Cycle Life

A common concern among users is that fast charging may degrade battery lifespan.

However, Shenxing III addresses this issue through advanced thermal and material engineering.

• For every 10°C increase in battery temperature, internal side reaction rates may approximately double
• These reactions significantly affect battery longevity

Through three key approaches:

• Reduced heat generation
• Enhanced heat dissipation
• Improved control precision

The battery maintains over 90% capacity retention after 1,000 full charge-discharge cycles.

For example, a vehicle with a range of 500 km would reach approximately 500,000 km after 1,000 full cycles, exceeding the typical lifetime usage of most passenger vehicles.

③ Improved Low-Temperature Performance

Low-temperature performance has historically been a major limitation for lithium-ion batteries.

Shenxing III demonstrates significant improvement in extreme environments:

• At -30°C, charging from 20% to 98% can be completed in under 10 minutes

With integrated self-heating technology, the system can achieve fast charging without requiring specialized charging infrastructure.

This is particularly important for users in cold regions, where traditional batteries may experience charging speeds reduced to one-third or less of normal conditions.

④ Cost Considerations

High C-rate batteries require advanced design and optimization in:

• Electrode materials
• Electrolyte systems
• Thermal management structures

As a result, their cost is typically higher than that of conventional batteries.

In addition, achieving true 10C-level fast charging requires compatible ultra-fast charging infrastructure, which is still under development in many regions.

4. Conclusion

The “Equivalent 10C” and “Peak 15C” specifications of Shenxing III indicate:

• A sustained average charging rate of approximately 10C
• A maximum instantaneous charging rate of up to 15C

For users, this translates into:

• Charging times on the order of minutes
• Reliable battery lifespan
• Stable performance even under low-temperature conditions

These advancements represent a significant step forward in high-performance lithium-ion battery technology.