China unveils world's first mass-produced sodium-ion EV

Friday 06 - 08:50

By: Dakir Madiha

China unveils world's first mass-produced sodium-ion EV

Chinese battery giant CATL and automaker Changan Automobile jointly revealed the Changan Nevo A06 on Thursday in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, launching the world's first mass-produced passenger vehicle with sodium-ion batteries. The companies plan commercial sales by mid-2026.

The sedan features CATL's 45 kWh Naxtra sodium-ion battery, delivering up to 400 kilometers of range under China's light vehicle testing cycle. Its cells achieve 175 Wh/kg energy density, rivaling dominant lithium iron-phosphate batteries in China's EV market.

CATL emphasized superior cold-weather performance as a standout advantage. At -30°C, the battery's discharge power nearly triples that of equivalent LFP packs, while at -40°C, capacity retention exceeds 90%. Output remains stable down to -50°C, suiting northern China and extreme climates. "The arrival of sodium-ion technology ushers in a dual-chemistry era," said Gao Huan, technical director of CATL's China E-car division. Yakeshi, in Hulunbuir, serves as a key Chinese hub for winter auto testing, with temperatures dipping to -33°C.

As Changan's exclusive sodium-ion supplier, CATL will equip all its brands Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan, and UNI—with Naxtra packs. Range could reach 500-600 km as supply chains mature, with extended-range EVs offering 300-400 km pure electric autonomy. The batteries earned certification under China's new GB 38031-2025 traction battery safety standard, effective July 2026 the first sodium-ion packs to do so. They passed crush, puncture, and saw tests without smoke or fire while sustaining power.

CATL began sodium-ion R&D in 2016, investing nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion) to develop 300,000 test cells with a 300-researcher team. Sodium's abundance and lower cost provide a strategic edge amid lithium supply worries, as Chinese lithium carbonate prices hit a two-year high near 180,000 yuan per ton in late January.