Discuss the development status of CALB: Innovation + quality to create a new scenario of high-quality endurance
On August 28, leading global renewable energy technology company CALB announced its three-year marine, land, and air application products in Chengdu. The "Top Flow," "Zhi Yuan," "Zhi Jiu," and "Boundless" all-solid-state battery series instantly became the focus of industry attention.
CALB's Chairman, Liu Jingyu, stated, "We have enough patience and resilience. Only through continuous innovation can we maintain vitality, navigate cycles, and demonstrate long-term development value."
Innovation is in our blood
CALB is one of the earliest companies to focus on power batteries in China and one of the fastest-growing renewable energy companies globally.
In terms of original innovation, in 2018, CALB launched globally leading high-safety and high-voltage technologies and products, setting the direction for ternary technology development and making significant contributions to the industry; in 2019, it introduced the world’s first all-tab stacking technology and products, guiding lithium battery manufacturing technology; in 2020, it unveiled the world’s first high-energy density battery system with a fire-free technology, redefining lithium battery safety standards; in 2021, it launched the unique OS battery technology and products, leading the TWh (terawatt-hour) era in battery technology; in 2023, it introduced the industry’s first ultra-fast charging solution with a Top Flow structure, redefining cylindrical batteries; and it globally premiered the mass-produced 314Ah energy storage cell and supporting solutions, setting a benchmark in the global energy storage industry.
CALB regards innovation as its lifeline, establishing an industry-leading, efficient R&D system focused on high voltage, high manganese, cobalt-free, and solid-state technologies. This showcases a robust underlying technical innovation capability, promoting continuous battery technology advancements from multiple dimensions, including material, structure, manufacturing, and system innovation.
The newly launched all-scenario application products include the Top Flow All-Climate Super Pure Electric Battery, the first in the industry with a 5V spinel chemical system, achieving zero degradation in range at minus 20°C, planned for launch in 2026; the Top Flow Ultra Charging Super Extended Range Battery, the industry’s first 5C ultra-fast charging extended range battery with a full charge range of up to 500 km, planned for 2025; and the Top Flow High Power Super Plug-in Hybrid Battery, the industry’s first cylindrical phosphate battery with the highest energy density, significantly reducing costs by 20% compared to mainstream products, planned for the first quarter of 2025.
The Zhi Yuan light truck large-capacity battery system uniquely covers a single battery pack from 100 to 180 degrees; the Zhi Yuan heavy truck standard battery system achieves an energy density of 167Wh/kg, the highest in the industry.
The second-generation 314Ah energy storage cell is the industry’s first mass-produced product with a cycle life of 15,000 times and zero degradation in the first 1,000 cycles; the third-generation 392Ah energy storage cell is fully compatible with existing cell production lines, and its container-related component technology is entirely compatible with the 5MWh container production line technology, supporting the fastest mass-produced cell in the industry for a 6.25MWh container solution; the new 625+Ah energy storage dedicated cell has an energy density of over 440Wh/L, achieving over 6.8MWh of power in a standard 20-foot container, significantly improving the investment return rate for power stations.
Additionally, the “Boundless” all-solid-state battery technology boasts an energy density of up to 430Wh/kg, with a capacity exceeding 50Ah, achieving significant breakthroughs in operational pressure, lifespan, and power, planned for small-batch vehicle installation in 2027.
It is foreseeable that diverse technological innovations and product strength will continually enhance CALB’s core competitiveness and market position in the global power battery sector.
Competing in the Innovation Arena
Following new energy vehicles and energy storage, the low-altitude economy has become a new hotspot for battery companies.
Recently, a drop test of the Xiaopeng Huitian flying car’s power battery pack was successfully conducted at the China Automotive Research Center (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. During the test, the high-capacity power battery pack fell from a height of 15.2 meters at a vertical speed of 62 km/h without any additional protection or cushioning, directly impacting the cement ground. After resting for 24 hours, there was no smoke or fire.
The successfully tested power battery pack originates from CALB’s innovative “Top Flow” cylindrical battery, designed for low-altitude travel, with a cell energy density of 300Wh/kg to meet 6C fast-charging scenarios, ensuring high power and fast charging capabilities while achieving significant improvements in lightweight and safety performance.
As a crucial part of low-altitude economic development, the domestic eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) industry has rapidly grown in recent years. As a core component, the performance of power batteries has become key to promoting applications.
On the morning of August 28, CALB officially signed a deep cooperation agreement with Xiaopeng Huitian in the low-altitude economy sector. Later that afternoon, at the 2024 CALB Global Ecological Conference, CALB launched the Top Flow High-Energy Flying Battery, which has an energy density of 350Wh/kg, the highest in the industry for semi-solid large cylindrical batteries, planned to be installed on electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVOLT) in 2026.
CALB has been dedicated to developing comprehensive solutions for high-energy density and high-safety batteries, being one of the first to introduce 400Wh/kg hybrid solid-liquid battery technology and set to be one of the earliest manufacturers to achieve mass production of 400Wh/kg hybrid solid-liquid applications.
“Emerging sectors such as low-altitude economy, electric ships, and rail transit are all advancing simultaneously,” said Pan Fangfang, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of CALB, noting that emerging industries are an important direction for cultivating new productive forces.
The penetration of electrification in shipping is accelerating. The Zhi Yuan electric ship achieves the highest energy levels within industry regulations, with the industry’s first nano-separation active safety protection technology, and the first ship battery system with a lifespan exceeding 12 years and no limit on travel mileage, set to launch in the fourth quarter of this year. To date, over 1,000 ships worldwide have adopted CALB’s power battery products.
The released rail transit battery system features a modular design adaptable to various pure electric and hybrid locomotives, with a voltage resistance rating exceeding 5000V, completing 90 certifications from the China Academy of Railway Sciences.
Pan Fangfang stated that CALB will always adhere to a strategy of leading products and technology, planning research and development for the future, and continuously promoting battery technology advancements through multi-dimensional innovation in materials, structures, manufacturing, and systems to create core product strength across all scenarios and win the high-charging-rate niche market.
Quality and Innovation Go Hand in Hand
Finding a balance between technological innovation and market demand is essential, and transforming innovation advantages into high-quality development advantages is crucial for sustaining a company's vitality.
Pan Fangfang emphasized the importance of the rhythm from technology to product, first understanding the definition of demand, identifying advantages, and aligning corporate strengths with market needs; conducting extensive feasibility studies to find optimal solutions in niche areas; and decisively executing responses to customer inquiries.
In the past two years, CALB has repeatedly won innovation and quality awards. In 2023, CALB received the highest achievement award from the China Quality Association—the "Demonstration Level" Achievement Award. In June of this year, CALB was awarded the highest honor in China's science and technology field—the National Science and Technology Progress Award.
Pan Fangfang believes that quality is the lifeline of the power battery industry, and that quality and innovation in research and development are equally important. CALB practices a comprehensive quality assurance system throughout the entire process.
Taking the Xiaopeng Huitian flying car power battery pack as an example, safety is of utmost importance in the development of flying cars, and battery safety is the foundation for maintaining stable power operation. The “Top Flow” cylindrical battery adopts an optimized cell arrangement and upgrades materials and structures, possessing ultra-high intrinsic safety and passive safety to robustly ensure impact resistance. Notably, the battery pack can still output full power at low SOC, assisting drivers in emergency landings and greatly ensuring life and property safety.
“We are conducting rigorous tests from cells to battery packs, including high-temperature, low-temperature, salt spray, and other environmental adaptability tests, overcharging and over-discharging tests, high-intensity vibration, and compression tests,” said Xie Qiu, Senior Vice President of CALB.
“Our products have been delivered and are running in over 1.6 million passenger vehicles, safely and stably operating in over 40 countries worldwide,” Liu Jingyu stated. Power batteries are special products, and even a speck of dust or a hair during production can trigger thermal runaway. Assurance and reliability are ingrained in everyone at CALB, which aims for the ultimate balance of energy and resources, the ultimate balance of energy and safety, and the high integration of design and manufacturing, with the ultimate goal of achieving high-quality "endurance" for the enterprise.
