CATL, the largest battery manufacturer in the world, is focusing on lithium-air battery technology for the future, which has a theoretical energy density equivalent to gasoline. These batteries utilize lithium metal as the anode and oxygen from the air as the cathode reactant, significantly reducing weight and complexity. Current lithium-air prototype batteries have reached an energy density four times higher than most batteries in commercial use today. US researchers are also advancing lithium-ion technology, with lithium-air batteries potentially being able to power a car for over a thousand miles on a single charge in the future. Despite political challenges, Chinese companies like CATL are moving forward with a three-part strategy focusing on mature technologies, solid-state batteries, and the theoretical limits of lithium-air technology for the future. The US may fall behind in this area due to political interference, but the potential of lithium-air batteries remains promising.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/06/catl-developing-12000-wh-per-kg-lithium-air-battery/