CATL skateboard chassis landed at the 24th CIIE, interpreting the new quality productivity of the car circle

From September 24 to 28, 2024, the 24th China International Industry Fair (CIIE) was grandly held at the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center. As one of the world's leading industrial technology events, the CIIE brings together top technology companies from around the globe to showcase the latest technological achievements in the era of Industry 4.0.
 

At this technological showcase, the CIIC integrated intelligent chassis from CATL (Shanghai) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Times Intelligence") became the focal point for many visitors due to its innovative design and revolutionary product form.
 

Innovative Concepts Ignite New Vitality in the Century-Old Automotive Industry

With the rise of electrification and intelligent technologies, people's expectations for cars have evolved from traditional transportation tools to diversified smart mobility spaces. Whether for outdoor travel, family use, business trips, or personalized retro vehicles, consumers now have diverse needs. At the same time, the homogeneity of core technologies has resulted in increased competition and price wars in the automotive industry. After more than two centuries of development, the question of how the automotive industry can embrace true "smart mobility" has become a pressing issue.
 

In this context, the skateboard chassis has gained significant attention. Initially proposed by overseas automotive companies around 2000, this concept represents a novel vehicle design approach that decouples the upper and lower sections of the vehicle, shortening development cycles and transforming traditional business models.
 

The CIIC integrated intelligent chassis, unveiled at the Industrial Expo, is a highly intelligent skateboard chassis developed by Times Intelligence, a subsidiary of CATL, a global leader in new energy technologies. Its core features include "decoupling the upper and lower bodies, high integration, and openness." As an independent, self-driving mobile energy platform, the CIIC chassis acts as a sports center, energy center, and data center all in one. With its innovative structural design, the chassis absorbs over 85% of vehicle collision energy (compared to approximately 55% for traditional chassis), enhancing safety, reducing design limitations, and allowing partners to focus more on product development related to intelligent driving, smart cockpits, and vehicle styling.
 

According to Times Intelligence, the CIIC chassis is a platform product available in CIIC-S/CIIC-M/CIIC-L versions, catering to the different size requirements of Class A to Class D vehicles. The CIIC-S model, which was displayed at the expo, features a flat chassis design and is compatible with various solutions, such as battery swapping.
 

In terms of product design, the CIIC chassis integrates the vehicle’s drive system, braking system, steering system, and suspension system into one unit, transforming the chassis into a complete component. It also offers a flexible toolkit solution, including various energy cabin and electric drive options. With a scalable hardware and software architecture and standardized interface design, the chassis allows for different models and use cases to choose tailored solutions, thus enabling a "variable model" approach with one chassis architecture.
 

The introduction of the CIIC integrated intelligent chassis marks a shift toward modular, personalized, and intelligent automotive design. The chassis emphasizes energy efficiency, battery health management, and extreme safety, while the upper body focuses on customizable design and intelligent user experiences, making the development and production of the upper and lower vehicle bodies more specialized.
 

Strengthening Technology to Implement "Variable Models" Reliably

Innovative concepts need strong technological support to become reality and enter the mainstream market. Safety is the foremost concern for consumers when purchasing new energy vehicles. Built on CATL's advanced power battery technology, the CIIC chassis is designed with a battery-centric approach. Using cell-to-chassis integration technology, the battery cells are directly integrated into the chassis, improving rigidity. The cells are inverted, with the explosion-proof valve facing downward, allowing high-pressure airflow to be safely vented through a special release path, reducing the risk of thermal damage to the passenger compartment. Coupled with CATL's NP2.0 technology (which prevents thermal diffusion), the system minimizes the risk of external flame in extreme conditions, further enhancing vehicle safety.
 

The deep integration of the battery, electric drive, and thermal management systems within the CIIC chassis creates a highly efficient energy management system. For example, the CIIC-800V version of the Nezha S, which went on presale in August, achieves a CLTC energy consumption rate of just 11.7 kWh per 100 kilometers, allowing for greater mileage with the same amount of electricity.
 

Equipped with a multi-source heat pump thermal management system, the CIIC chassis can efficiently manage energy and heat sources. Even in extreme cold (as low as -7°C), the navigation range degradation is kept under 33%. To meet the needs of all climatic conditions, more than 20 thermal management strategies have been developed, ensuring optimal performance in summer cooling, winter heating, extreme cold heat pumping, and waste heat recovery scenarios.
 

Additionally, the chassis’s low-voltage power distribution system replaces traditional lead-acid batteries with a PDC+12V lithium battery solution, which generally lasts throughout the vehicle's life cycle without replacement (traditional lead-acid batteries need to be replaced every 2-3 years). The intelligent PDC power distribution controller monitors voltage network safety and enables lifecycle health management.
 

In the automotive industry, “black technology” refers to breakthroughs that offer a smarter driving experience, more efficient energy use, and enhanced safety. It represents not just technological advances but also fundamental changes to how people live.
 

The CIIC integrated intelligent chassis signifies the skateboard chassis concept's transition from a "black technology" concept to mass production, heralding an era of mass customization and personalization in the automotive industry.