Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 25th, at the Auto China 2024, CATL unveiled its CIIC (integrated intelligent chassis), also known as the "skateboard chassis," marking its public debut.
The CIIC is described by the company as "vertically decoupled, highly integrated, and open for external collaboration." It employs an expandable software and hardware architecture with standardized interfaces, enabling a single chassis design to be adapted across a diverse range of vehicle models.
The CIIC functions as a standalone mobile energy unit that combines the roles of a motion center, energy center, and data center. Its design prioritizes the battery, incorporating CTC (Cell to Chassis) technology, where the battery cells are directly integrated into the chassis. This integration enhances assembly efficiency and enables the potential for a range exceeding one thousand kilometers. Alternatively, it can support a downgrade in battery chemistry while maintaining the same range, accommodating various battery types and swapping solutions such as Qilin and Shenxing batteries.
In terms of design, the CIIC highly integrates subsystems such as the battery, electric drive, and thermal management directly into the chassis. This deep integration of the vehicle's battery, electric motor, and electric control systems not only improves overall efficiency but also conserves space for the vehicle body. Additionally, it can absorb 80% of the energy from vehicle collisions, reducing the interdependence between design and safety, thus granting more freedom in the vehicle's aesthetic design.
CATL said it has equipped the CIIC with a range of Toolkits solution packages, allowing customers to tailor subsystem solutions to their specific vehicle designs and functional requirements.
Furthermore, the CIIC features various solutions developed by CATL's wholly-owned subsidiary, Contemporary Amperex Intelligence Technology (Shanghai) Limited (“CAIT-SH”), such as brake-by-wire system, steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering, electronic control suspension, and all-wheel-drive control system.
Notably, the innovative brake-by-wire system EPHB (Electric Pedal Hydraulic Braking) is touted by the company as the industry's first genuine physically decoupled hydraulic solution. This system removes the mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the electronic control unit, incorporating software redundancy strategies, safety monitoring, and fault handling mechanisms to ensure the system's safety and robustness, representing a significant technological advancement in completely decoupling the vehicle's upper and lower bodies.
