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CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, is preparing to introduce electric vehicles equipped with sodium-ion batteries starting mid-2026. This marks a significant milestone in the commercialisation of alternative battery chemistry. The first consumer EV to feature the technology will be from Aion.
The rollout is the culmination of research that began when CATL first unveiled sodium battery prototypes in 2021.
Sodium-ion batteries address critical shortcomings of conventional lithium-based power cells, particularly in extreme cold. Lithium batteries suffer from capacity loss and require energy-intensive heating systems in freezing temperatures. Sodium chemistry, by contrast, demonstrates exceptional cold-weather resilience. Real-world tests in delivery trucks and vans confirmed that these batteries can charge at temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F) and retain 90% of their normal energy storage capacity at -40°C (-40F).
This cold tolerance has profound implications for drivers in cold climates, where winter range loss and extended charging times are chronic frustrations. For municipal fleets and delivery services operating year-round in cold regions, sodium-ion technology could eliminate weather-related operational disruptions. It also reduces the need for costly battery heating infrastructure, lowering both capital expenditures and ongoing energy use.
Cost Advantage of Sodium-ion Batteries
Beyond performance, sodium-ion offers structural cost advantages. Sodium is abundantly available and significantly cheaper than lithium, which has experienced price volatility and supply chain constraints. Broader adoption of sodium-ion batteries could reduce overall EV prices, making electric mobility more accessible to price-sensitive markets and accelerating global adoption.
The technology does come with current limitations. Sodium-ion cells have lower energy density than lithium-based cells, meaning they store less power per unit of weight. However, CATL has set a target to match the performance of standard lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) technology by 2029. Continuous improvements in cell chemistry and manufacturing processes are expected to narrow the gap over the next several years.
CATL’s chief technology officer, Gao Huan, confirmed the production timeline to China Securities Journal, reinforcing the company’s commitment to diversifying battery chemistries. Sodium-ion technology is not positioned as a complete replacement for lithium but rather as a complementary solution suited for specific use cases—particularly cold climates, urban fleets, and entry-level vehicles where extreme energy density is less critical.
The first sodium-powered passenger vehicles are expected to reach consumers in summer 2026, with broader availability ramping up in the second half of the year. As production scales, sodium-ion batteries could reshape the EV landscape by offering a more sustainable, cost-effective, and climate-resilient alternative to conventional lithium-based systems.
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