Li Auto Launches 800V Fast Charging Solution, First Pure EV to Use CATL’s Qilin Battery

Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto unveiled its autonomous driving and battery electric vehicle (BEV) roadmap on the first day of the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition.

The company’s BEV solution includes an 800-volt electric drive system based on the third-generation silicon carbide power module, batteries with 4C charging capabilities, a wide temperature range thermal management system, and a fast charging network. The scheme allows the company’s BEVs to achieve a driving range of 400 kilometers with just a 10-minute charge.

Li Auto will begin the trial operation of its first batch of 25 supercharging stations by the end of May. These stations will be open to all electric vehicle owners and each station is equipped with three fast charging piles and one 4C ultra-fast charging pile. By the end of this year, Li Auto plans to build more than 300 supercharging stations along highways. Additionally, it aims to construct a total of 3,000 supercharging stations by 2025.

Opening a new chapter through its paralleled development of extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and HPC BEVs, the company strives to establish a model portfolio of one super flagship vehicle, five EREVs, and five HPC BEVs by 2025, mainly targeting markets with prices above 200,000 yuan ($29,078). Li Auto‘s first pure electric model will be equipped with CATL’s 4C-rate Qilin batteries. Previously, CATL stated that the cooling area of this new battery is about four times larger than traditional batteries. A ten-minute quick charge can be achieved under fast charging conditions without compromising battery life or energy density.

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In terms of intelligence, Li Auto stated that its intelligent driving has progressed from stage 1.0 to stage 3.0, and the scenarios for intelligent driving functions have also expanded from highways to urban areas.

The company expects to release its city NOA for beta testing in its full-stack self-developed Li AD Max 3.0 in the second quarter of 2023, and targets to roll out in 100 cities nationwide by the end of 2023. The company believes that the Li AD Max 3.0 will be able to function without high-precision maps and, more importantly, to perceive, decide, and plan in real time like a human driver.