Geely’s Zeekr model formally began buyer deliveries of a brand new model of the Zeekr 001 mannequin, geared up with the all-new CATL Qilin battery (English “Kirin”), which is the longest-range electrical automotive out there available on the market in China, and probably globally.

The Zeekr 001 with a 140-kilowatt-hour (kWh) CATL Qilin battery has a CLTC vary of 641 miles (1,032 km).

That is a really excessive outcome, though we should word that the CLTC take a look at cycle utilized in China may be very optimistic. It is tough to say what can be the outcome at 70 miles per hour or on the EPA take a look at cycle, however any real-world outcome round 500 miles would put the Zeekr 001 among the many longest-range BEVs ever.

Zeekr introduced the 622+ miles (1,000+ km) vary in mid-2022, and as promised, the brand new model arrived in Q2 2023, becoming a member of the present 86-kWh and 100-kWh battery variations. Nonetheless, let’s not get too excited, as a result of no less than for now, there might be solely a restricted run of 1,000 models with the CATL Qilin battery.

Furthermore, the choice is out there on the bottom WE trim (rear-wheel drive), and never on the all-wheel drive trims (WE, ME and YOU), which have a decrease vary utilizing 86-kWh or 100-kWh packs.

The 140-kWh battery model is also considerably dearer than the 100-kWh one:

• Zeekr 001 WE trim (100 kWh, RWD): $42,750 (300,000 CNY)
  CLTC vary: 461 miles (741 km)
• Zeek 001 WE trim (140 kWh Qilin battery, RWD): $57,426 (403,000 CNY)
  CLTC vary: 641 miles (1,032 km)
• Distinction:
  180 miles (290 km) or 39% extra vary, utilizing 40% greater battery capability
  $14,677 (103,000 CNY) or about $367 per kWh

The CATL Qilin battery is basically the third technology of CATL’s cell-to-pack (CTP) battery system, which could include prismatic lithium-ion cells (LFP or NCM chemistry) to realize a lot greater vitality density – as much as 255 Wh/kg (pack stage), within the case of NCM model.

Sequence manufacturing of this method began in March, based on the Chinese language media, and first it was utilized in the Zeekr 009 MPV, which entered the market in April, providing 510 miles (822 km) of CLTC vary, when geared up with a 140-kWh battery. The usual mannequin is provided with a 116-kWh battery for 436 miles (702 km) of CLTC vary.

Different fashions with the CATL Qilin battery might be Seres’s Aito BEVs.