China's Sodium-Ion EV Battery Technology Achieves New Breakthrough with 4C Ultra-Fast Charging, Fully Charged in 11 Minutes.
Just over a month after Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and Changan Automobile jointly launched the world’s first mass-produced EV equipped with a sodium-ion battery, Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) has announced a new technical breakthrough. The company’s R&D division revealed it has successfully developed its first sodium-ion battery prototype, marking a significant milestone. BAIC’s “Aurora” battery series now covers three core technologies: lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion batteries. The new sodium-ion Battery Pack features a prismatic cell design with an energy density exceeding 170Wh/kg, placing it at the industry’s forefront. Thanks to 4C ultra-fast charging technology, the battery can be fully charged in approximately 11 minutes.
A key highlight is its stable performance across an exceptionally wide temperature range, from -40°C to 60°C. BAIC stated that even at -20°C, the battery retains over 92% of its energy capacity.
Gao Huan, CATL’s Chief Technology Officer, said at a press conference in February: “Breakthroughs in sodium-ion technology will bring greater resilience, wider operating temperature ranges, and more sustainable development to electrification.” The company noted that its "Naxtra" Sodium-Ion Batteries can achieve a maximum energy density of up to 175Wh/kg, on par with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Passenger vehicles will be equipped with a 45 kWh sodium-ion battery pack, delivering a maximum range of 400 km under CLTC conditions. With ongoing technological iterations in the coming months and years, CATL expects the range to increase to between 500 and 600 km.
Sodium offers a more cost-effective and price-stable alternative to lithium. As a result, leading Chinese battery manufacturers such as CATL and BYD are actively investing in sodium-ion technology to mitigate the impact of rising lithium prices. Last year, global sodium-ion battery shipments reached 9 GWh, a 150% increase from 2023. The figure is projected to surpass 1,000 GWh within the next four years.