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CATL's Bedrock Chassis: A New Era of Safety in Automotive Design

On December 24, 2024, CATL unveiled its innovative Bedrock Chassis, the world's first ultra-safe skateboard chassis designed to revolutionize vehicle safety. This advanced chassis is capable of absorbing the immense force generated during a frontal collision at speeds of 120 km/h, without igniting or exploding, a feat that sets a remarkable benchmark in automotive engineering.

A Game-Changer in Collision Safety

The Bedrock Chassis utilizes a unique design where the battery cells are integrated directly into the chassis, enhancing structural rigidity and impact resistance. This Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) integration allows the chassis to absorb approximately 85% of vehicular impact energy, significantly outperforming conventional designs which typically absorb around 60%.

In rigorous testing, the Bedrock Chassis successfully passed the industry's toughest test, a dual assessment combining maximum speed and highest impact force. Withstanding impacts that would equate to falling from a height of over 56 meters, the chassis demonstrates unprecedented resilience under extreme conditions, effectively re-defining safety protocols in the automotive sector.

Technological Innovations Driving Safety

The Bedrock Chassis is built upon three technological breakthroughs that enhance protection across all potential scenarios:

1. Revolutionary Structural Design: Featuring a biomimetic armor-like structure reminiscent of a turtle's shell, the chassis integrates both body and frame into a consolidated unit. This design crucially disperses impact forces through multiple pathways, significantly minimizing injury risk during collisions.

2. Advanced Materials: The use of high-strength materials, including aerospace-grade aluminum and deep-drawn mild steel, contributes to the chassis's exceptional durability while maintaining lightweight properties that are essential for electric vehicles.

3. Enhanced Battery Safety: The Bedrock Chassis introduces an ultra-safe battery cell design that is unmatched in the market. With innovations including NP technology and a high-ductility insulating film, it ensures that battery cells remain stable and secure under extreme conditions. Notably, the voltage shutdown mechanism activates within just 0.01 seconds upon impact, rapidly discharging any residual energy within 0.2 seconds—a groundbreaking standard for safety in automotive designs.

Paving the Way for a Modular Future

The release of the Bedrock Chassis doesn't just signify an advancement in safety; it also catalyzes the shift towards a trillion-yuan market by enhancing modular vehicle designs. This chassis addresses common industry challenges such as high investment costs and lengthy development cycles. Its design features—including internal integration, decoupling from superstructures, and external openness—enable rapid prototyping and customization for various automotive models and configurations.

As a result, the time required to transition from concept to mass production is drastically reduced, with companies now able to bring vehicles to market in just 12 to 18 months—a substantial decrease from the previous 36 months or more typically experienced.

Collaboration for Continuous Improvement

CATL's partnership with AVATR, the first automaker to implement the Bedrock Chassis, represents a significant step towards a safer vehicular ecosystem. By collaborating to deepen their partnership, both companies aim to enhance the quality and safety of transportation, ensuring all users experience superior protection.

Looking ahead, CATL is committed to ongoing innovation in safety technologies, aiming to push boundaries even further while collaborating with industry partners to foster a secure environment for electric vehicles and their batteries. This progressive approach not only enhances user safety but also reflects a broader commitment to transforming the automotive industry.

The launch of the Bedrock Chassis signifies a monumental leap forward in the field of automotive safety, a move that could redefine standards for years to come and usher in a new era in smart vehicle design.