Two current titans of the electric mobility industry have used a joint venture to bring new battery technology to help EV drivers finally go faster. Today, SAIC-GM and CATL launched a new lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cell with a 6C multiplier, which allows charging rates of up to 200km in just five minutes, making it the fastest battery cell in China .
SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited (SAIC-GM) is a joint venture established in Shanghai in 1997 as a 50/50 partnership. During that time, SAIC helped the American car company GM to capture a decent share of the Chinese car market and expanded the partnership into a joint venture that added Guangxi Auto (formerly Wuling Group) to develop and build commercial and consumer vehicles for the Chinese market. under the marques of Wuling and Baojun.
Meanwhile, China's CATL has remained the world leader in battery production for seven consecutive years. This past March, we reported that GM was negotiating with CATL to supply LFP batteries with affordable batteries and jointly build a new manufacturing facility in North America.
Across the pond, GM's SAIC and CATL joint venture has been making its own battery, introducing the new 6C LFP.
SAIC-GM and CATL present a fast charging battery
The two joint venture partners shared details of the new LFP fast-charging battery today, along with several Chinese media outlets, including. CnEPPostit covered the event. According to the JV, the new cell, which includes cheap lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry, can allow fast charging of 6C – an industry first.
As a result, SAIC-GM and CATL say the new battery cell can collect a range of 200 km (124 miles) in just five minutes of DC fast charging. The “C” in the factory charge section refers to the charge multiplier assigned to the battery cell. Therefore, achieving 6C means that a new GM and CATL LFP battery can be fully charged in one-sixth of an hour or 10 minutes, depending on the power output of the particular DCFC.
So far, Chinese automakers have only been able to deliver the 5.5C battery, which ZEEKR used in its 2025 007 sedan, hailed by its makers as “the fastest production car.” Meanwhile, ZEEKR said its new LFP technology can recharge the 007 from 10-80% state-of-charge in 10.5 minutes.
With its new 6C cell, SAIC-GM and CATL look to blow those charging standards out of the water. According to the companies, the new LFP cells will be operational by 2025 within GM's Ultium's quasi-900V architecture, which will also feature additional design improvements, such as a new CTP structure and improved cooling technology.
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