Chinese carmaker Changan Automotive is set to offer the world's first, mass-produced passenger EV equipped with a sodium-ion battery. According to the company, the upcoming Changan Nevo A06 will have a capacity of 45KWh and a range of over 400km (250 miles) but will ditch traditional lithium for CATL's new Naxtra sodium-ion battery pack.
At -40°C (-40°F) the battery pack was able to retain more than 90% of its original capacity.
CATL is possibly the world's largest manufacturer of EV batteries and claims switching to sodium-ion will outperform traditional lithium-ion batteries when it comes to cold weather performance.
As per a report in Gizmochina (H/T TechRadar), real-world testing has just wrapped up in Mongolia with the Nevo A06 able to charge normally at -30°C (-22°F) and continue to operate in temperatures as low as -50°C (-58°F).
In fact, CATL says that the battery pack was able to retain more than 90% of its original capacity at temperatures of -40°C (-40°F). I doubt even the best EVs would be able to achieve something comparable. And if sodium-ion alternatives could deliver sustained performance in cold-weather regions without sacrificing range, it could be a game changer for EV uptake in certain parts of the world.
Alongside the improved cold-weather performance, sodium-ion batteries may gain favor with automakers because sodium is abundant and less prone to supply chain geopolitics that can disrupt lithium distribution. It's cheaper, too.
According to the report, CATL is now beginning a new phase for its EV battery packs where sodium-ion will coexist alongside lithium-ion, depending on things like cost and use-case. The Changan Nevo A06 is expected to hit the Chinese market in mid-2026 with the company adding sodium-ion to its wider lineup in the future.
At present, this will remain a China-only product, but I'd be very surprised if U.S. and European carmakers weren't eyeing up adding sodium-based batteries to their R&D plans in the very near future.
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