China’s sodium-ion battery push is moving towards commercialisation from 2026, speakers said at an industry forum in the coastal city of Weihai recently.
They said the chemistry suits hybrids, UPS units, grid frequency regulation and lead-acid replacement, thanks to strong power, good cold-weather performance, safety and lower cost.
Tsinghua University’s Li Jinghong urged developers to target those uses rather than long-range EVs.
Battery maker Beijing Zhongke Haina’s Li Shujun said the sector is shifting from sample validation to market pilots and expects scaled applications in 2026.
With higher output and rising energy density, he projected unit costs could fall by about half within two to three years.
Standardisation is also advancing. The China Electronics Standardization Institute reported two national standards have been issued, 11 national/industry standards are being prepared and four China-led international standards are being drafted.
Testing across 44 companies showed sodium-ion performs better than lithium-ion at low temperatures and ranks well on safety, complementing lithium in power and storage markets and offering a route to replace lead-acid units.
On the supply side, CATL has launched its sodium-ion brand, Naxtra, and plans mass production from December 2025 with 175 Wh/kg cells. The move would meet output with 2026 roll-outs.
Analysts said sodium-ion isn’t dense enough for long-range electric cars yet; the next two to three years would show if it could find a lasting niche.
