Cheaper sodium battery with 500km range to launch next year
World’s largest automotive battery-maker has high hopes for green power pack ahead of mass productionThe News
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited (CATL) has announced that it will start mass producing its next generation sodium-ion batteries from next year. They’ll arrive to market with a range of 500km and be both cheaper to produce and significantly kinder on the environment. This is due to their reliance on abundant sodium, rather than much-rarer and harder to extract lithium. There’s no word yet which car-maker will be first to use the new battery tech.
The Key Details
- Cheaper sodium cells are also far safer
- With sodium abundant, the batteries are classed environmentally friendly
- Still capable of fast charging and discharging
- Claimed to eventually power 40 per cent of all EVs
The Finer Details
CATL says the drawback of its next-gen sodium-ion batteries is that with an energy density of 175Wh/kg, their power density is much lower than more common battery chemistries like lithium-iron phosphate. However, from then on, it’s a win-win situation for owners.
Not only are they cheaper, but they also have a far lower carbon footprint, are safer to use and work well in low temperatures.
According to CATL, it predicts that sodium-ion cells’ lower price will see them employed in more than 40 per cent of passenger vehicles in the future, with the tech expected to appeal to car-makers developing small, affordable EVs.
Despite mass production beginning this year, CATL predicts that the first sodium-ion battery-powered vehicles might not be launched until 2027.
Described as the first “large-scale mass-produced sodium-ion batteries” as well as a high-voltage application for passenger cars, CATL has also developed the batteries to be used for 24-Volt starter batteries for heavy-duty trucks.
Both batteries are said to work well at temperatures that range from minus 40 degrees Celsius to 70C.
The Road Ahead
Solid-state batteries have been heralded as the holy grail for EVs with charging speeds as quick as brimming a combustion car with fuel. Cheap, safe sodium-ion batteries with low carbon footprints will be another piece of the puzzle when it comes to mass adoption, allowing car-makers to finally price electric cars well below a petrol-powered equivalent.
Related: Mazda bags CATL’s pioneering BEV platform for future models
Related: China's CATL launches game-changing batteries
Related: Latest CATL battery can add 600km of EV range in 10min
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
