On February 5, Chongqing Changan Automobile Company Limited and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) jointly unveiled a global sodium battery strategy in Yakeshi, marking the official debut of the world's first mass-produced passenger vehicle equipped with sodium batteries. The vehicle is expected to hit the market by mid-year.

Sodium batteries are not a new concept. As early as 2023, when new energy was at its peak, sodium batteries generated significant buzz, but the initial excitement failed to translate into large-scale commercialization, especially as lithium prices returned to normal levels.

However, major battery manufacturers, including CATL, have persisted with this technology, viewing it as a complementary alternative to lithium batteries.

The year 2026 is emerging as a pivotal moment for the second wave of sodium battery industrialization, characterized by a competitive landscape where new sodium-focused players concentrate on materials, while established lithium battery giants define applications and set market trends. In December 2025, Eve Energy commenced construction of its Eve Sodium Energy headquarters project while concurrently developing "traceless" and "non-flammable" sodium battery products. Zhongneng Energy released its "Yuan Na Qing Ying" battery in June 2025, with plans for a market launch in the first quarter of 2026.

It is important to note that several challenges remain for the widespread application of sodium batteries. Their relatively low energy density is currently the primary bottleneck limiting penetration into the broader electric vehicle market. The focus of technological advancement will long revolve around steadily increasing energy density through material innovation and system integration, without significantly compromising cost or safety. Furthermore, the maturity of the supply chain, cycle life, and cost control under mass production still require further improvement and validation.

A key advantage of sodium-ion batteries is their superior low-temperature performance. On January 22, CATL launched its Tianxing II Light Commercial series, which includes a low-temperature version utilizing sodium-ion technology.

Last year, CATL indicated at a supplier conference that 2026 would see the large-scale application of sodium batteries across four sectors: battery swapping, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage. The Tianxing II low-temperature model represents the first mass-produced sodium-ion battery for the light commercial vehicle segment. This battery has a capacity of 45 kWh and is compatible with various models, including small and medium-sized vans and light trucks.

The low-temperature performance is one of the most prominent advantages of sodium-ion batteries. Due to properties such as lower solvation energy, stronger diffusion capability in the electrolyte, and a lower freezing point of the electrolyte, sodium-ion batteries maintain excellent charge and discharge performance even in cold environments.

For example, the Tianxing II Light Commercial low-temperature version can be charged immediately even at -30°C when the cells are completely frozen. At -20°C, the battery retains over 92% of its usable capacity.

In contrast, in cold regions like Northeast or Northwest China, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, while often rated for over 500 km of range, can see their capacity drop to 80% or even 60% at -20°C, significantly impacting the driving experience.

"In a -20°C low-temperature environment, sodium battery cells require no additional heating or extra energy consumption for thermal management. Furthermore, sodium batteries have a significant advantage in high-rate discharge: for instance, during a 5C rate discharge—far exceeding the typical less than 1C rate of daily driving—the temperature rise is less than 5°C. This characteristic allows for a simpler and more efficient thermal management system design for sodium batteries," stated Gao Huan, Chief Technology Officer of CATL, in a post-launch interview.

Consequently, sodium batteries demonstrate unique advantages in specific scenarios. Their exceptional low-temperature performance holds irreplaceable value in extremely cold regions such as Northeast and Northwest China.

Gao Huan provided an example: traditional lead-acid or lithium batteries often fail to start a vehicle after sitting overnight in severe winter conditions (e.g., -20°C) if the charge level is only 10-15%. In contrast, sodium batteries have been tested to operate stably down to -30°C, significantly improving cold-start reliability. The company has already introduced a 24V start-stop integrated sodium battery product that has performed excellently in practical use.

Notably, sodium batteries typically have higher internal resistance than lithium batteries. This means that in the event of an internal short circuit, the instantaneous current is smaller, generating less heat and thereby reducing the risk of thermal runaway, fire, or explosion.

Gao Huan stated that regarding safety, CATL's second-generation sodium battery performs exceptionally well, showing no fire or explosion even under extreme tests like sawing or penetration. This safety profile allows for simplified design integration into battery packs, not only enhancing system safety but also further optimizing overall economy and performance.

Sodium batteries are not intended to entirely replace lithium batteries. However, with their superior low-temperature performance, high safety, and long cycle life, sodium batteries hold broad prospects in energy storage, commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and the construction of a zero-carbon society. They are particularly poised to carve out a significant niche in promoting the green transition of the transportation and energy sectors.

Despite their advantages, the commercialization path for sodium-ion batteries still faces challenges related to energy density, cycle life, and supply chain maturity. Energy density is a core performance metric, directly determining the driving range of electric vehicles and the footprint of energy storage systems.

Public data indicates that the first generation of mass-produced sodium-ion batteries generally have an energy density between 140-160 Wh/kg. While leading companies like CATL are expected to improve upon this, there remains a significant gap compared to ternary lithium batteries, making sodium batteries currently unsuitable for high-end passenger vehicles with stringent range requirements.

Furthermore, compared to lithium batteries, which have been developed for decades, the sodium-ion battery supply chain is still in its nascent stages. Key bottlenecks exist: among the three mainstream cathode material technologies—layered oxides, polyanionic compounds, and Prussian blue analogues—none has achieved clear dominance, each having its own pros and cons, and production capacity remains relatively limited.

The maturity of the supply chain directly impacts the final product cost and supply stability. According to GGII data, as of 2025, the average price of sodium batteries was around 0.45 RMB/Wh, which, compared to the continuously decreasing price of LFP batteries (approximately 0.3 RMB/Wh), does not yet represent a decisive cost advantage.

Mass production is key to driving down costs.

Gao Huan explained that sodium battery costs depend primarily on two factors: the maturity of the supply chain and commercial negotiation capabilities. Therefore, it is difficult to provide a specific price figure at present. However, from a technical standpoint, sodium batteries possess inherent cost advantages. Yet, constrained by the current small manufacturing scale, a direct cost comparison with the mature lithium battery industry is not yet feasible.

Gao Huan also noted that sodium resources are more abundant and easier to obtain than lithium resources, offering the potential for a more accessible and sustainable energy system. While sodium battery costs in 2026 may not yet reach parity with LFP, CATL's goal is for sodium batteries to surpass current lithium-ion batteries in economic terms within the next two to three years.

Therefore, the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries is not an outright disruption of the lithium battery market but rather a gradual, scenario-by-scenario infiltration process. The year 2026 represents a critical inflection point, moving from demonstration applications towards scaled mass production.

Given that sodium batteries are still in the early stages of industrialization, with both costs and production capacity being nascent, Gao Huan revealed that the company is collaborating with strategic partners to make forward-looking investments in key areas such as cathode materials, manufacturing processes, and specialized equipment. As production scales up, the entire supply chain is expected to accelerate its development and maturation.

Peng Bin, STO of CATL's Commercial Product Line, discussed that CATL has multiple generations of sodium battery products. Through system innovation tailored to specific scenarios in the commercial vehicle sector, the company aims to optimize the total cost of ownership across different application schemes.