CATL wins at Golden Lithium Awards

China’s inaugural Golden Lithium Awards put CATL and BYD at the center of a new round of battery-technology competition on May 16, according to the awards list published by industry research platform RealLi Research. The organizer’s list highlighted projects tied to solid-state batteries, sodium-ion chemistry, dry-electrode production and battery-pack integration across Chinese manufacturers. CATL was recognized for work spanning its third-generation Qilin battery, a second-generation sodium-ion program and CTC 2.0 battery-to-body integration technology. BYD’s battery unit, FinDreams Battery, was recognized for second-generation Blade Battery mass production and what the organizer described as solid-state battery breakthroughs. ### Which CATL projects were actually named by the awards organizer? RealLi Research’s May 16 awards list named CATL for the mass production of its third-generation Qilin Battery, progress on its second-generation sodium-ion battery and CTC 2.0 integration technology, according to the published coverage. The organizer grouped those projects with other battery and materials programs selected from across China’s lithium-battery supply chain. (carnewschina.com) CATL said on April 21 that it had unveiled six battery products at its Super Technology Day in Beijing, including the third-generation Qilin Battery and its Naxtra sodium-ion battery. The company said those launches also included a fully integrated supercharging and battery-swapping solution, giving context for the technologies later cited in the awards coverage. ### Why did BYD appear alongside CATL in the same awards list? BYD’s battery division, FinDreams Battery, received a “Technical Breakthrough and Innovation Award” tied to second-generation Blade Battery mass production and what the organizer called “Hohan solid-state battery breakthroughs,” the published awards coverage said. (carnewschina.com) The same list also named EVE Energy for its Longquan No. 2 all-solid-state battery program and 4680 cylindrical battery production, and Gotion High-Tech for its Jinshi solid-state battery project. (catl.com) BYD said on March 5 that it had unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery and FLASH Charging technology in Shenzhen. BYD said the system could deliver up to 1,500 kW through a single connector and that it planned 20,000 chargers in China by the end of 2026. ### Did the awards release include verified technical specs for those projects? The RealLi Research announcement did not disclose technical specifications, commercialization schedules or vehicle deployment timelines for the solid-state battery projects it recognized, according to the awards coverage. (carnewschina.com) The same report said later claims circulated by Chinese self-media accounts about BYD solid-state battery range, cycle life and future vehicle fitment did not appear in the original award announcement and could not be independently verified through official BYD disclosures. (byd.com) CATL’s own April 21 announcement did provide some product detail outside the awards release. The company said its new sodium-ion battery would move toward mass production in 2026 and said its third-generation Qilin and condensed-matter products were part of a broader six-product launch in Beijing. ### What does the winners list show about where Chinese battery makers are spending effort? The May 16 awards list covered battery makers, materials suppliers, equipment manufacturers and recycling companies across the lithium-battery sector, according to RealLi-linked coverage. (carnewschina.com) Alongside CATL and BYD, the list highlighted dry-process lithium iron phosphate technology from Hunan Yuneng and dry-electrode equipment and solid-state manufacturing systems from Jiatuo New Energy. (catl.com) Those selections point to a wider field than vehicle batteries alone. The organizer’s categories reached into materials, manufacturing tools and recycling, suggesting the awards were built to recognize projects across the supply chain rather than only finished battery packs. ### Where can readers check what was published on May 16? CarNewsChina published the awards coverage on May 16 and identified the organizer as RealLi Research, calling the event the “2026 Golden Lithium Awards Excellent Lithium Battery New Material Enterprises and Projects Selection.” The article said the awards were announced on May 16 and listed the named projects from CATL, BYD and other Chinese battery companies. (carnewschina.com) BYD’s next concrete milestone in the public record is its plan to build 20,000 FLASH chargers in China by the end of 2026, while CATL has said its sodium-ion battery program is moving toward mass production in 2026. (bydukmedia.com) (carnewschina.com)