CATL, a global provider of battery innovations, has launched its Bedrock chassis, an innovative battery-centered design that redefines safety standards for electric vehicles (EVs).
Leveraging cell-to-chassis integration technology, this breakthrough design directly integrates battery cells into the chassis structure, enabling a shared and optimized design between the battery and chassis.
This integration enhances safety, structural efficiency, and overall vehicle performance while addressing the industry’s growing need for safer and more resilient EV solutions.
The Bedrock Chassis also features a decoupled design between the chassis and the upper body, enabling it to absorb 85% of collision energy — far surpassing traditional chassis, which typically absorb around 60%. This makes the Bedrock Chassis a game-changer that improves occupant safety during high-speed collisions.
CATL’s Bedrock Chassis recently passed the world’s first “highest speed + strongest impact” dual extreme safety test, demonstrating its ability to withstand a 120 km/h frontal, central pole impact without catching fire, exploding, or undergoing thermal runaway. This achievement sets a new benchmark for EV safety in the automotive industry.
To put this in perspective, current frontal impact tests under the widely used C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program) are conducted at 56 km/h, which generates collision energy equivalent to falling from a 12-meter-high building. In contrast, a 120 km/h frontal impact generates 4.6 times more energy — equivalent to a fall from a 56-meter-high building.
The Bedrock Chassis’ ability to handle this extreme impact without safety failures underscores its exceptional resilience and safety engineering.
In addition to these safety advancements, the Cell-to-Chassis integration technology allows for an efficient use of space and materials, improving the vehicle’s overall energy density and performance. By integrating battery cells directly into the chassis, CATL’s Bedrock Chassis eliminates redundant structures, reduces weight, and enhances structural integrity, paving the way for lighter, more efficient EV designs.
The Bedrock Chassis not only raises the bar for EV safety but also reflects CATL’s commitment to innovation in sustainable mobility solutions. With this technological leap, CATL aims to empower automakers with a safer and more efficient platform for the next generation of electric vehicles.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News