China’s CATL launches new EV sodium battery

Chinese language battery large CATL launched on Monday a brand new sodium-ion battery it says will restructure the electrical automotive business, and a brand new system to mix two battery applied sciences into one automotive.

The agency produces greater than a 3rd of all electrical car (EV) batteries offered worldwide, working with main manufacturers together with Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen.

Sodium-ion batteries are seen as a less expensive and in some respects safer different to the lithium-ion batteries that are broadly utilized in each electronics and electric vehicles however pose a hearth danger if broken.

“We’ll obtain mass production by the top of the yr. It should restructure the entire business,” CATL’s chief advertising and marketing officer Luo Jian advised a information convention in Shanghai on Monday.

Manufacturing of the sodium-ion batteries is because of begin in June, starting with small starter batteries for heavy items autos below the Naxtra model. This new battery is predicted to supply a significant benefit for beginning autos in chilly climate.

Manufacturing of huge batteries for electrical and hybrid cars are attributable to observe in December of this yr.

The sodium-ion batteries have “emerged from the labs and are now ready for commercial scale production,” CATL CEO Robin Zeng advised the information convention.

Zeng mentioned he sees sodium-ion batteries changing half the marketplace for lithium, iron and phosphate batteries.

Whereas sodium-ion know-how has been round for many years, it has lagged behind lithium-ion batteries in efficiency. However renewed curiosity within the know-how has meant sodium-ion batteries may be manufactured with out the necessity for sure expensive metals.

CATL’s Naxtra batteries promise a driving range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) for electrical automobiles.

A couple of hours earlier than the opening of the Shanghai Motor Present on Monday, CATL additionally launched the second era of its Shenxing battery, attributable to be fitted in 67 automobiles this yr belonging to Chinese language manufacturers Zeekr, Nio and Avatr.

The fast-charging battery boasts an 800-kilometer driving vary, and a 520-kilometer vary regained in simply 5 minutes of charging time—greater than its Chinese language rival BYD.

CATL is relying on the event of battery alternate techniques, equivalent to that of its companion Nio, to disseminate its new applied sciences.

However heavy tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on China might enhance the worth of components and automobiles.

CATL executives declined to touch upon tariffs.

The US Protection Division has included CATL on a listing of firms it accuses of affiliation with the Chinese language army, a declare denied by CATL.

On the Shanghai Motor Present, the group additionally introduced as its new twin battery system for EVs.

The agency’s technical director Gao Huan mentioned the twin system will provide extra security, significantly for self-driving automobiles, by stopping failure if one of many two batteries malfunctions.

A manufacturing date for the twin batteries, which have been in improvement for 5 years, has but to be introduced. However one automotive producer is already utilizing the twin system in its design of an autonomous automotive, Gao mentioned.

© 2025 AFP