At the latest 2026 Powering the Nation Forum, Wu Kai, Chief Scientist at CATL and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, unveiled the corporate’s strategic focus on lithium-air battery technology. This marks the primary time CATL has publicly recognized this technology as its future growth route and a focus for the subsequent technology of world battery competitors.
The “breathable” battery: a leap in energy density
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, which rely on heavy steel compounds like nickel, cobalt, and manganese to “house” lithium ions, lithium-air batteries utilise lithium steel because the anode and oxygen from the air because the cathode reactant. This design considerably reduces weight and complexity, incomes them the nickname “breathable batteries.”
The theoretical energy density of lithium-air technology is staggering, reaching as much as 12,000 Wh/kg—a determine similar to gasoline (approx. 13,000 Wh/kg). While present laboratory prototypes have achieved over 1,200 Wh/kg, that is already greater than 4 instances the 250–270 Wh/kg capability of mainstream lithium-ion batteries and considerably greater than the five hundred Wh/kg anticipated from solid-state batteries.
If efficiently commercialised, this technology might essentially get rid of vary anxiousness, making electrical automobile ranges exceeding 1,600 km widespread.
Overcoming historic hurdles
While the idea of lithium-air batteries dates again to the Seventies, sensible utility has been hindered by engineering challenges, resembling sensitivity to moisture and carbon dioxide within the air, in addition to points with catalyst stability and cycle life.
However, latest breakthroughs have revitalised the sphere:
- 2024: A joint analysis crew from the University of Illinois Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and California State University, Northridge, efficiently demonstrated a lithium-air battery able to over 700 cycles in an air-like surroundings.
- 2025: Argonne National Laboratory and the Illinois Institute of Technology developed a prototype reaching 1,200 Wh/kg with a 1,000-cycle lifespan at room temperature. This technology is projected to allow EV ranges exceeding 1,600 km and is anticipated to be prepared for deployment after 2030.
A strategic roadmap
CATL’s announcement follows its profitable monitor file with sodium-ion batteries. After first proposing the sodium-ion idea in 2020, CATL has efficiently scaled the technology, with mass manufacturing underway in 2026. Sodium-ion batteries are actually being built-in into numerous fashions, together with the GAC Aion UT, Changan Oshan 520, and autos from manufacturers like Geely, Chery, and FAW.
With this newest pivot, CATL’s long-term technique for the battery business has turn out to be clear:
- Short-term: Rely on mature applied sciences to fulfill rapid market calls for.
- Mid-term: Upgrade person experiences via solid-state battery integration.
- Long-term: Explore the theoretical limits of energy storage by way of lithium-air technology.
CATL holds the world’s largest market share in each energy batteries and energy storage. In phrases of energy batteries, it leads the market by securing a 47.0% market share in April 2026. Regarding energy storage, in 2025, CATL’s energy storage battery gross sales reached 121 GWh, with a world market share of 30.4%, rating No. 1 worldwide for 5 consecutive years.
