SHANGHAI, April 19 Reuters Chinese battery giant CATL on Wednesday unveiled a condensed matter battery that it said could supply enough energy to power electric passenger aircraft for civil aviation use.

The battery, a type of semisolid state product with condensed electrolyte and new anode and separator materials, will have an energy density of 500 Watt hours per kilogramme Whkg, according to Wu Kai, CATL39;s Scientist in Chief, speaking to reporters at the Shanghai auto show.

The company is working with unspecified partners to ensure the battery is qualified for aviation use in terms of safety and quality, Wu said.

CATL will also be able to start mass production of the condensed matter battery for electric vehicle uses later this year, Wu added.

Condensed matter technology is being embraced by battery makers competing to develop new materials to improve energy density of the current generation of lithiumion batteries, which is under 300 Whkg.

Chinese electric vehicle EV maker Nio is planning to power its ET7 cars with a semisolid state battery with 360 Whkg energy density developed by Beijing Welion New Energy Technology.

CATL on Tuesday also announced its targets to achieve carbon neutrality with all its battery making plants by 2025, and across its battery value chain by 2035.

The commitments are important for CATL to meet increasing standards and regulations for the carbon footprint of its batteries in Europe and the United States as CATL expands into those…