CATL is moving sodium-ion batteries closer to mainstream use, with large-scale production planned this year and future electric vehicle applications projected to reach 500km to 600km.
CATL chief scientist Wu Kai said at the 2026 Equipment Power Forum that the Chinese battery giant would achieve scale production of a series of sodium-ion battery products in 2026. Sina Finance, citing Securities Times, reported his remarks on May 30.
Wu said sodium-ion batteries use more abundant raw materials than lithium-ion batteries and have lower cost potential. He also said CATL’s next-stage research focus would include lithium-air batteries.
The timing follows CATL’s own update at its Super Technology Day in Beijing on April 21, when the company said its Naxtra Sodium-ion Battery had moved from laboratory work to GWh-level industrialisation.
CATL said it had addressed four production bottlenecks in 2026, covering water control, gas generation in hard carbon, aluminium foil adhesion and self-forming anode systems. Full-scale mass production is due by the end of 2026.
For electric vehicles, CATL said in February that its Naxtra sodium-ion battery has energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg and can support more than 400km of pure-electric range.
The company projects 500km to 600km for future pure EVs as the sodium-ion supply chain improves. For range-extended and hybrid vehicles, the projected range is 300km to 400km.
Changan is the first confirmed passenger-car partner. CATL said it would supply Naxtra batteries across Changan’s brand portfolio, including Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan and UNI.
Sodium-ion batteries are also gaining traction outside passenger cars. Reuters reported in April that CATL had signed its first major sodium-ion energy-storage deal, supplying 60 GWh to Beijing HyperStrong Technology over three years.
The chemistry’s appeal is not range alone. Sodium-ion batteries could reduce reliance on lithium, use more abundant materials and offer stronger cold-weather performance.
CATL said the Naxtra pack delivers nearly triple the discharge power of comparable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries at minus 30°C, while retaining more than 90% capacity at minus 40°C.
The 600km figure needs qualifying. CATL is preparing sodium-ion batteries for mass production in 2026, but the first EV applications are expected to offer more than 400km.
The 500km to 600km range is a later target, not a launch figure for the first sodium-ion production car.
