World's First Aviation Battery for Flying Cars Passes CATL Test

Fire-Safety Hurdle Cleared: Chinese Firm Tests Aviation Battery for Flying Vehicles

According to НВ — Техно: Published on August 11 at 7:30 a.m.

CATL, the Chinese battery maker, says its aviation-grade cell pack-with an energy density of 350 watt-hours per kilogram-has passed a thermal-runaway test. Engineers deliberately made two neighboring cells fail at the same time, one inside the pack's tightly packed center and another at the outer corners. Despite that double ignition, the pack contained the heat and kept flames from spreading to surrounding cells. The company describes the design as the world's first aviation battery built on prismatic cells, with specific energy roughly 50 percent higher than that of typical electric-car batteries. The milestone comes as urban air mobility developers worldwide push to bring battery-powered flight to market.

Production and testing were carried out under the oversight of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). CATL's assembly lines are 95 percent automated and feature thousands of quality checkpoints. The first units will go to Shanghai-based AutoFlight for its passenger eVTOL aircraft. CATL has already made major investments in AutoFlight, and the two companies previously worked on a floating vertiport concept with takeoff pads and solar energy storage.

"The aviation battery system is ready for mass production and will be the first to be used on our AutoFlight flying vehicles. We will work with partners and specialized research institutions to tackle technical challenges and deliver safe, reliable products for drone manufacturers and operators," CATL said.

According to SNE Research, CATL holds 39.9 percent of the global EV battery market. The aviation battery could become a major step forward for electric transportation and give new momentum to the aviation industry. The successful trial also strengthens the case for electric aviation as a way to cut carbon emissions, especially as interest in cleaner flight options grows worldwide.

The Road Ahead for Electric Aviation

CATL's successful trial opens up fresh possibilities for electric flight. The combination of high energy density and strong safety characteristics could appeal not only to drone makers but also to teams working on new passenger aircraft concepts. With global environmental concerns mounting, electric planes are becoming an increasingly realistic option, and breakthroughs like this may help bring low-carbon air travel closer than ever.

As advancements in battery technology continue to unfold, the recent unveiling of a fast-charging EV battery by Hongqi highlights the rapid evolution in the electric vehicle sector. With a remarkable charging time of just 3 minutes and 41 seconds, this innovation complements the progress made by CATL in aviation batteries, illustrating how the race for efficient energy solutions is accelerating across different transportation modes. To learn more about this groundbreaking development, check out the details in our article on Hongqi's experimental battery.