US lawmakers are calling for sanctions on China battery maker CATL.

Senator Marco Rubio and Representative John Moolenaar have asked the US Defense Department to add China’s battery maker CATL to a restricted list of firms allegedly working with China’s military, according to Reuters.

Companies on the restricted list are unable to received US military contracts.

CATL – previously called China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co – is the world’s largest EV battery maker and is heavily involved in many EV projects, including Renault’s EV arm Ampere, which announced earlier this year an ‘ambitious’ battery plan, working alongside LG Energy Solution (LGES) and CATL.

In May, CATL unveiled what it claimed was the world’s first LFP battery to achieve a range of over 1,000km (620 miles) with 4C superfast charging. It is named Shenxing Plus.

In its response to Reuters, the Chinese battery maker said Mr Rubio and Mr Moolenaar’s letter "makes accusations that are factually inaccurate and completely groundless.” It also added that it “not controlled by the Chinese government."

The Pentagon did not immediately comment to the news agency.