- CATL’s new Bedrock Chassis was unveiled in China setting new standards on battery safety.
- The skateboard EV chassis shortens the R&D phase thanks to its modular design.
- Avatr will be the first automaker to use the new skateboard chassis in a production model.
Battery giant CATL has introduced a new skateboard chassis for electric vehicles, focused on delivering maximum safety for the battery pack. The CATL Bedrock Chassis has survived a demanding 120 km/h (75 mph) frontal collision against a pole without catching fire or exploding, setting (according to the company) new standards in the safety of future EVs.
The skateboard chassis integrates the battery cells, featuring a “three-dimensional biomimetic tortoise shell structure” and an “high-ductility energy-absorbing insulation film”. For its construction, CATL used submarine-grade hot-formed steel, aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, and multiple barrier structures, making it as rigid as possible.
More: See What Happens When Two Cars Hit A Chinese EV At 60KM/H In Triple Crash Test
Furthermore, the high-voltage circuit of the battery is being disconnected in 0.01 seconds after the impact, with the discharge being completed within 0.2 seconds.
Going above and beyond C-NCAP’s requirements
Thanks to its design, the Bedrock Chassis is capable of absorbing 85% of the vehicle’s collision energy, which marks a significant improvement compared to the 60% of a traditional chassis. This is important in collisions as demanding as the frontal pole crash test that simulates impact with trees, power poles, or animals.
According to CATL, the pole crash test at 120 km/h (75 mph) generates 21 times more energy compared to the 56 km/h (35 mph) full-width frontal impact test which is currently the standard in the C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program).
Besides the 120 km/h (75 mph) test, the battery cells have undergone high-speed sled impact tests at 60 km/h (37 mph), 90-degree bending tests, and sawing tests, proving their resilience into catching fire or exploding.
CATL
Modular design considerably shortens development times
The company claims that the Bedrock Chassis shortens the R&D cycle for new production models from 36 months to only 12-18 months. This was made possible by its modular design, with the chassis being decoupled from the upper body, allowing to to be used in multiple vehicle types. Furthermore, the platform is compatible with L3 and L4 autonomous driving, and is flexible in terms of software.
CATL has confirmed that Avatr will be the first automaker to use the Bedrock Chassis in a production vehicle, although they haven’t disclosed the timing of its launch.
In a recent video shared on YouTube, CATL explains the measures they have taken to ensure the safety of their battery packs during all different kinds of collisions. The company acknowledged the extra risk involved in side impacts, which is why they have already improved the design of the battery casing.