• Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd., the electric-vehicle-battery producer that supplies Tesla, says it has made a battery that can last 16 years and over 1 million miles.
  • CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun told Bloomberg over the weekend that the battery was ready to produce and that it was about 10% more expensive than other batteries on the market.
  • Reuters reported in May that Tesla was working on a million-mile battery with CATL. It’s unclear whether this is the same battery.
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Tesla’s battery supplier says it’s made a huge breakthrough in battery technology that could power electric-vehicle sales for years to come.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd., the Chinese car-battery giant that supplies Tesla and Volkswagen, is ready to produce a battery that can last 16 years and 2 million kilometers, or 1.24 million miles, the company’s chairman, Zeng Yuqun, told Bloomberg over the weekend.

Zeng said the company was ready to start fulfilling orders for the battery but didn’t disclose whether anyone had bought any yet. He added that the battery cost about 10% more than average EV batteries.

Battery life is one of the main areas holding back widespread EV adoption, and a long-lasting battery could be transformative for the industry. Batteries are the most expensive part of EVs, so if one with a longer life could be transferred into a new car, it could significantly lower the price. Bloomberg said warranties on EV batteries cover roughly 150,000 miles or eight years.

Reuters reported in May that Tesla was making a million-mile battery with CATL. Sources told Reuters that Tesla planned to launch the new battery in China first as part of a wider strategy to reposition the company. Tesla did not immediately respond to Business Insider's question about whether the battery announced by CATL was developed jointly.

In his interview with Bloomberg, Zeng seemed upbeat about the industry's prospects, which took a downturn with the coronavirus pandemic. "The pandemic may have a lasting effect throughout 2020," he said, "but won't be a major factor next year."