Key Takeaways
- On Monday, April 21, CATL unveiled what it said is the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion electric vehicle battery.
- Sodium-ion batteries offer several advantages over the lithium-ion ones that currently predominate.
- BYD is also betting on sodium-ion technology as the future of EVs.
As raw material costs for lithium rise, automakers and battery manufacturers are accelerating investment in sodium-ion technology.
While EV manufacturers tentatively explore the new technology, Chinese battery giant CATL has unveiled its first vehicle-ready sodium-ion product, hoping to gain an edge over battery rival BYD.
Sodium-ion vs. Lithium-ion Batteries
Because of their higher energy density and longer lifecycle, Lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the EV market.
But sodium-ion alternatives offer several key advantages over lithium-based batteries.
For starters, sodium is significantly more abundant and cheaper than lithium, potentially driving down the cost of batteries once manufactured at scale.
Sodium-ion cells also don’t need critical materials like cobalt, nickel, and graphite, which are important for lithium-ion batteries but create complex supply chain dependencies.
Finally, sodium-based batteries are generally safer as they have a higher flashpoint and are less prone to thermal runaway.
Next-Gen EV Batteries
As the EV industry looks to a future beyond Lithium, Chinese brands have emerged as leading innovators in sodium-ion technology.
In 2024, the first EVs equipped with sodium-ion batteries hit the market courtesy of JMEV and Yiwei, a subbrand of JAC Motors.
Two Chinese companies—Farasis Energy and Hina Battery—provide the technology for JMEV’s EV3 and the Yiwei 3.
CATL vs. BYD
While more niche battery makers have led the sodium-ion charge, the arrival of the world’s two largest EV battery makers could pave the way for mainstream adoption.
BYD has been working on the technology for years and launched a sodium-ion energy storage system in 2024.
Chairman and CEO Wang Chuanfu unveiled a prototype of the company’s first sodium‑ion EV battery in December 2023, boasting that the unit could charge in as little as seven minutes.
The BYD Seagull was initially rumored to be the first EV with a sodium-ion battery, but two years later, the company still hasn’t released a market-ready sodium-ion EV product.
In the meantime, the world’s largest EV battery maker, CATL, has caught up.
At an event on Monday, April 21, CATL showcased Naxtra, which it called “the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery.”
The company also unveiled the second generation of its Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery, which it claims can charge from 5% to 80% in just 15 minutes
The new Shenxing battery takes direct aim at BYD’s rival fast-charging system, promising to offer a 520km range with just a five-minute charge. Last month, BYD unveiled a battery that could add about 470km of range with the same charge time.
James Morales is CCN’s blockchain and crypto policy reporter. He has been working in the news media since 2020, writing about topics such as payments, banking and financial technology. These days, he likes to explore the latest blockchain innovations and the evolving landscape of global crypto regulation.
With an educational background in social anthropology and media studies, James uses his platform as a journalist to explore how new technologies work, why they matter and how they might shape our future.
