GAC AION ups vehicle safety with magazine battery

GAC AION unveiled new lithium iron phosphate batteries on Thursday, which the Chinese electric carmaker claims to be the safest of its kind so far.

China Automotive Technology and Research Center conducted a piercing test of the product called the magazine battery.

Its temperature rose to 51 degrees Celsius but did not emit smoke nor catch fire. In the control group, the sample's temperature rose to 329 degrees Celsius and smoke went out for 16 minutes.

The battery, which was named the magazine battery after its shape, also has enhanced performance in terms of energy density at a lower cost.

Its energy density is 9.4 percent better but the cost is cut by 10 percent, said the carmaker. "In a word, it is safer and has a lower cost without sacrificing its range," said the carmaker.

GAC AION said the magazine battery was the result of 600 engineers and 80 patents were involved. The carmaker said its vehicles will start to sport the new battery this year.

The company was one of the best-selling electric car makers in the country, with over 100,000 vehicles sold in the past years.