CATL tests sodium-ion batteries in passenger EVs

China’s CATL has begun testing its sodium-ion batteries in passenger EVs, planning to install the Naxtra battery in Changan Automobile Group models for winter testing in Inner Mongolia.

The batteries will be used across Changan’s brand portfolio, including Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan, and Uni models.

Sodium-ion technology is more temperature-resistant and less flammable than lithium-ion batteries, with earlier tests showing over 400 km range and nearly three times the discharge power at -30 °C.

Changan’s chief brand officer, Tan Benhong, said the company plans to test the Avatr 12 in Antarctica within 18 months to prove durability in extreme conditions.

Sodium-ion batteries use abundant sodium, reducing reliance on lithium carbonate, whose prices have fluctuated sharply.

CATL’s new batteries aim to diversify China’s EV power sources, though the technology is still in its early commercial stage.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

CATL’s sodium-ion push leans on lower costs and better cold-weather results

Lower lithium dependence is part of the pitch, yet cheaper inputs drive the economics. Sodium carbonate costs less than lithium carbonate 1.
Estimates put cell-level pricing near $40/kWh. That would beat the roughly $55–$70/kWh range cited for lithium iron phosphate (LFP), though costs differ by maker and scaling still poses challenges 2, 1.
CATL says its Naxtra sodium-ion passenger EV battery reaches up to 175 Wh/kg, in the LFP range, plus a 10,000+ cycle lifespan 3.
CATL also reports about 90% usable capacity at –40°C. Earlier tests logged over 400 km range and nearly triple the discharge power at –30°C versus lithium-ion, although results vary by chemistry and test setup 4.

Beyond passenger cars, sodium-ion aims at fleets and grid storage

CATL frames sodium-ion as a companion technology to lithium-ion, built for use cases where its strengths matter most 5.
Near-term rollouts include winter trials in Changan Automobile Group passenger vehicles. Sources also expect passenger models from GAC and JAC to use CATL’s sodium-ion packs 3.
CATL plans large-scale deployment in 2026 across battery-swapping systems, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage 6.
Adding another chemistry may cut exposure to lithium price swings. The sources do not back a specific claim of “geopolitical constraints” tied to lithium mining in this context 5.