For over 70 years, every vehicle—whether an EV or an internal combustion engine (ICE) model—has required a 12V battery to operate. These batteries typically need replacement every 3–4 years to ensure the vehicle can start. In EVs, a dead 12V battery renders the vehicle completely immobile; braking systems lock up and doors fail to open—a major inconvenience, especially when the main battery pack still holds a charge.
Last week, Leapmotor unveiled its Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) 3.0 High-Low Fusion Battery technology, which eliminates the need for a separate 12V battery. This new system boosts the EV's low-voltage system capacity to seven times that of previous-generation systems.
The vehicle's main battery pack can now power systems that previously relied on a 12V battery, such as the ignition system, windshield wipers, air conditioning, lights, alarm systems, and airbags.
With CTC 3.0, owners no longer need to purchase replacement 12V batteries every few years, thereby reducing the anxiety of being stranded due to a failure to start. It also helps mitigate pollution caused by used lead-acid batteries, an issue involving an estimated 300 million discarded units annually.
