On December 24, 2024, China’s CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.), the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery maker, introduced the CATL Bedrock Chassis, the world’s first ultra-safe EV skateboard chassis. This groundbreaking development is poised to redefine EV safety standards and accelerate the global transition towards safer and smarter electric transportation. With its ability to withstand a 120 km/h (75 mph) frontal impact without catching fire or exploding, the CATL Bedrock Chassis stands as a beacon of innovation in the electric vehicle sector.

What is the CATL Bedrock Chassis?

The CATL Bedrock Chassis is the world’s first ultra-safe EV skateboard chassis, designed to integrate the battery cells directly into the chassis, creating a unified and structurally superior platform. This breakthrough design offers unparalleled safety by significantly reducing the risk of thermal runaway, fire, or explosions during high-speed impacts. Unlike traditional chassis, which absorb only about 60% of a vehicle’s collision energy, the CATL Bedrock Chassis absorbs 85% of collision energy, making it far safer in extreme crash scenarios.

Key Features of the CATL Bedrock Chassis

• Cell-to-Chassis Integration: This design allows for better energy distribution, absorbing more collision energy.
• Instant High-Voltage Disconnection: The system disconnects high-voltage circuits within 0.01 seconds after impact and discharges residual energy within 0.2 seconds, setting a new safety standard.
• Flexible Design Architecture: The Bedrock Chassis offers high customization potential for vehicle manufacturers, promoting faster product development.
• Faster Production Cycles: This chassis allows vehicle manufacturers to reduce the development cycle from over 36 months to 12-18 months.

Why the CATL Bedrock Chassis is a Game-Changer

1. Unrivaled Safety Features

The CATL Bedrock Chassis integrates Cell-to-Chassis technology, directly embedding the battery cells into the chassis structure. This allows the chassis to absorb 85% of a vehicle’s collision energy — a massive leap compared to traditional chassis designs, which only absorb around 60%.

2. World’s First 120 km/h Frontal Impact Test

The safety of the Bedrock Chassis was demonstrated with a groundbreaking frontal pole impact test at 120 km/h (75 mph). No fire, explosion, or thermal runaway occurred, setting a new safety benchmark. This test is 4.6 times more intense than the commonly used C-NCAP 56 km/h frontal impact test, showcasing its extreme resilience.

3. Advanced Material and Structural Design

The Bedrock Chassis uses submarine-grade hot-formed steel (2,000 MPa strength) and aerospace-grade aluminum alloys (600 MPa strength), ensuring maximum rigidity and protection during a crash. Its innovative three-dimensional biomimetic tortoise shell structure further enhances safety by dispersing impact forces effectively.

“Safety is the core of CATL—it’s part of our DNA.” – Ni Jun, CATL Chief Manufacturing Officer

CATL Bedrock Chassis: A New Era in EV Safety and Design Flexibility

The CATL Bedrock Chassis does more than just prioritize safety—it also enables a highly customizable vehicle design. With its modular architecture, vehicle manufacturers can now create multiple models using a single chassis platform, accelerating development and reducing costs. As CATL’s CEO stated:

“The Bedrock Chassis sets a new standard for intelligent chassis safety and will activate a trillion-yuan market.”

This innovation could open up the electric vehicle market to new players, allowing them to build safe and efficient vehicles at a fraction of the traditional cost.

The Global Impact of the Bedrock Chassis

The CATL Bedrock Chassis promises to be a game-changer for the global automotive industry. Here are some of the potential impacts:

1. Lower Development Costs

Thanks to its modular design, manufacturers can reduce costs dramatically. Development that once took billions of dollars can now be achieved with just $10 million.

2. Faster Time-to-Market

With traditional EV development cycles often taking 36 months or more, the Bedrock Chassis reduces this to just 12-18 months, speeding up the transition to EVs worldwide.

3. Enhanced Vehicle Safety

As safety remains a top concern for consumers, the Bedrock Chassis will likely influence other manufacturers to raise their standards. By integrating cutting-edge materials and design, CATL is setting the stage for a future where EVs are safer than traditional gas-powered cars.

Future Potential of the CATL Bedrock Chassis

The introduction of the CATL Bedrock Chassis marks a significant milestone in the EV industry. This chassis is expected to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by addressing some of the biggest challenges automakers face, including long development cycles, high costs, and safety concerns. Furthermore, it opens the door to new players in the EV market, especially in regions where established automakers are absent. As a result, the Bedrock Chassis could become a key enabler of a trillion yuan market, facilitating the growth of modular, personalized, and intelligent vehicle designs.

CATL and its partners are already working on plans to integrate this technology into various new vehicles. AVATR, a joint venture of CATL, will be the first automaker to use the Bedrock Chassis for its future models, marking the beginning of a new era for safer, more adaptable EV platforms.

Conclusion: A New Era of Safe and Intelligent EVs

The CATL Bedrock Chassis is more than just an engineering marvel; it’s a bold step towards revolutionizing the electric vehicle industry. By prioritizing safety and efficiency, CATL is setting new industry standards that could reshape the future of transportation. With its ability to withstand extreme impacts, accelerate production times, and enable customizable vehicle designs, the Bedrock Chassis is positioned to lead the charge in the development of ultra-safe electric vehicles worldwide.

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