CATL's 350 Wh/kg Battery Passes Aviation-Grade Safety Certification

CATL announced that its new prismatic battery cell — achieving an energy density of 350 Wh/kg — has completed all safety testing in China and become the world's first cell of its class to pass aviation-grade safety certification. The cell will power the battery system of manned electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

According to CATL, the tests were observed throughout by representatives appointed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). During trials, technicians deliberately triggered thermal runaway in two adjacent cells at various locations — including the center and corners — of the battery pack. Results showed that thermal runaway in a single cell did not propagate heat or flame to neighboring cells; Victory successfully interrupted the thermal propagation chain, and no adjacent cells ignited, keeping the entire system within safety thresholds.

CATL emphasized that test data from this validation can be directly applied to future eVTOL type certification, significantly shortening the airworthiness approval timeline. Currently, most eVTOLs on the market use battery cells with energy densities concentrated between 280–320 Wh/kg — making CATL's 350 Wh/kg cell an industry-leading achievement. Notably, CATL has not disclosed the overall energy density of the full battery pack system incorporating this cell — system-level density is typically much lower than the cell-level value due to structural components, thermal management modules, and protective design elements.

Higher energy density translates directly into longer range, lighter aircraft weight, and greater payload capacity — critical factors for commercial eVTOL operations. CATL stated that the 350 Wh/kg cell is ready for mass production and will debut on Shanghai-based Autoflight's manned eVTOL — the V2000EM Prosperity. This model features a 15-meter wingspan, six-passenger cabin, maximum takeoff weight of 2,400 kg, maximum range of 200 km, and operational ceiling up to 3,000 meters.

Data shows that as of June 2026, CATL's domestic动力电池 installation volume in China reached 32.59 GWh, commanding a 43.2% market share — ranking first in China — and remains the world's largest battery manufacturer by installed capacity, serving numerous OEMs both domestically and internationally.