Daimler deepens alliance with CATL

FRANKFURT – Daimler says it is deepening an alliance with the Chinese battery maker CATL to deliver battery packs capable of giving Mercedes-Benz cars 430 miles of range at higher recharging speeds.

Daimler already has battery cell supply deals with Korea’s SK Innovation, LG Chem and Farasis in addition to Contemporary Amperex Technology, which is known as CATL, as it plans to ramp up production of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Mercedes will launch the EQS luxury electric sedan with CATL cell modules in 2021, with a range of more than 430 miles on the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) scale.

Wednesday’s agreement with CATL said the partnership will include supplying cells and entire battery systems as well as combining research.

“We intend to lead in battery technologies, so we are now combining our own research and development expertise with bold partners,” Daimler said in a statement.

“The agreement covers the full range of battery technologies, from cells across modules for Mercedes-Benz Cars to entire battery systems for Mercedes-Benz Vans in promising innovative technology configurations,” Daimler said. “This also includes the CATL cell-to-pack (CTP) design, which eliminates conventional modules and integrates the cells directly into the battery.”

The partnership aims to shorten development cycles, significantly increase the ranges of future batteries through advances in energy density and reduce charging times, Daimler said.

CATL will use electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydropower for its battery cell production, the joint release said.

The battery maker is building a European factory near Erfurt, Germany, which will supply battery products to Daimler.