The world’s largest battery maker has set a deadline to begin large-scale production of sodium-ion batteries, a technology that for years has been seen as a potential replacement for lithium-ion batteries in the entry-level segment of the market.
Wu Kai, chief scientist at CATL and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, confirmed at the Equipment Powerhouse Forum on May 30 that manufacturing challenges that previously hampered production have been overcome. The focus is to achieve a range of 600 kilometers on a single charge.
Advantages of sodium technology for electric vehicles
The sodium ion is considerably more abundant and accessible than the lithium ion. Consequently, each battery produced with this technology reduces dependence on a more expensive raw material that is subject to fluctuations. For consumers, this new development could result in more competitive prices for electric vehicles, especially in the category currently dominated by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
More on this story: Chinese researchers develop sodium battery that charges in 4 minutes and lasts for years
However, for CATL, the purpose of these new batteries is to compete with the entry-level versions of the LFP, and not to take up the space of premium options.
CATL integration plans and the future of batteries
The company plans to expand the use of sodium technology beyond a single product. Its projects include applications in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, battery swapping systems and energy storage infrastructures.
Initially, the sodium battery versions will be aimed at economy cars and storage systems. At the same time, the company is developing cells with greater energy density to get closer to the 600 km range, which is currently exclusive to higher-cost configurations.
This decision follows a recent milestone when CATL signed a 60 GWh supply contract, the largest sodium battery order ever recorded globally.
Full coverage: Latest News (EN)
CATL leadership in the battery market
The initiative with sodium batteries comes at a time when CATL maintains its leadership in the traditional battery market. According to data from China EV DataTracker, by April 2026, the company had installed 29.06 GWh of batteries for electric vehicles, which represented a 46.6% share of the Chinese market.
Of this total, around 19.53 GWh were from LFP batteries and 9.53 GWh from ternary nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries. Sodium technology therefore does not replace these production lines, but rather establishes a new parallel manufacturing path.
The evolution of Naxtra sodium batteries
CATL had previously presented its line of Naxtra sodium batteries, including a version for passenger cars that achieved 175 Wh/kg energy density. According to the company itself, this was the highest rate recorded for this chemical until 2025, promising a range of approximately 500 km and more than 10 thousand charging cycles.
Additionally, sodium batteries offer greater safety, as, by not using flammable materials, they significantly reduce the risk of fires compared to other chemical compositions.
Future Research: Beyond Sodium
Sodium batteries represent a technology that will arrive soon. Looking to the future, CATL is already directing its research efforts towards lithium-air batteries. These use atmospheric oxygen as a reactant and promise energy densities much higher than those of current systems, whether with liquid or solid-state electrolyte. More details about this innovation are yet to come.