【Tech 24H】CATL has officially announced that its power battery system for manned eVTOLs has passed the adjacent dual-cell thermal runaway propagation resistance test. It is the world’s first product equipped with 350Wh/kg high-energy-density prismatic cells to pass this test. Manned aircraft batteries are subject to stricter safety standards than batteries for new energy vehicles. The test simulated extreme failures of two adjacent cells, and no thermal propagation occurred inside the battery system. 350Wh/kg marks the upper energy density limit of mainstream eVTOL batteries across the industry. Supported by optimized thermal insulation and thermal management structures, this battery addresses the longstanding thermal propagation dilemma of high-energy-density cells, striking a balance between flight range and flight safety. The product is ready for mass production and will be supplied preferentially to AutoFlight’s eVTOLs. As a leading domestic enterprise in China’s low-altitude economy, AutoFlight has received large-scale strategic investment from CATL. Its tonne-class aircraft has obtained the world’s first type certificate (TC) and production certificate (PC) of its kind, and its five-seat manned model is expected to complete certification in 2027. [ By Zhang Liyan ]