Changan and CATL prepare to bring sodium-ion powered electric vehicles to global roads.
Chinese automaker Changan has partnered with battery giant CATL to unveil what is being described as the world’s first mass-production passenger electric vehicle powered by sodium-ion batteries. The vehicle is expected to enter the market by mid-2026, marking a significant milestone in next-generation battery technology.
Under the partnership, CATL will supply its advanced Naxtra sodium-ion batteries across Changan’s entire brand portfolio, including Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan and Uni. The move signals a broader strategic shift toward diversifying battery chemistries and strengthening energy security in the electric mobility sector.
Calling it the beginning of a “dual-chemistry era,” Gao Huan, CTO of CATL’s China E-car Business, said sodium-ion technology represents a strategic step forward. He noted that Changan’s roadmap reflects long-term vision and responsibility toward energy security, similar to its early adoption of electric vehicles. CATL, he added, will leverage its expertise to deliver safe, reliable and high-performance sodium-ion solutions at scale.
The Naxtra sodium-ion battery offers an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, currently setting the benchmark for mass production in this segment. Equipped with a Cell-to-Pack system and intelligent battery management system (BMS), it enables a pure-electric driving range exceeding 400 km. As the sodium-ion ecosystem matures, projected ranges could extend to 500–600 km for pure electric variants and 300–400 km for hybrid or range-extended models, potentially addressing more than half of the new energy vehicle market’s range requirements.
One of the standout features of the technology is its performance in extreme cold conditions. The battery delivers nearly three times the discharge power of comparable LFP batteries at –30°C, retains over 90% of its capacity at –40°C, and maintains stable power output even at –50°C. Safety tests under harsh conditions—including crushing, drilling and sawing—reportedly showed no smoke or fire, with the battery continuing to function.
CATL began researching sodium-ion technology in 2016 and has since invested nearly ¥10 billion (approximately US$1.5 billion) in development, producing close to 300,000 test cells.
By combining technical innovation with large-scale manufacturing capability, Changan and CATL aim to transition sodium-ion batteries from laboratory research to mainstream commercial adoption, positioning them as a viable alternative in the evolving electric vehicle landscape.
