Will new batteries give China’s EVs the jolt they need to charge past their rivals?

On a cloudy evening in late April, a tech event hosted at Beijing’s National Convention Centre by Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) drew nearly 1,000 people eager for a glimpse of next-generation electric vehicle (EV) batteries that could reshape the global automotive landscape. Gao Huan, chief technology officer for the auto business at CATL, the world’s largest producer of EV batteries, exuded confidence while promoting the new Shenxing product series. According to the company, its...