Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) recently unveiled its Tianxing II range of light commercial EV batteries, including a low-temperature version that is the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery for commercial EVs. Car news China reports.
With an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and a lifespan of 10,000 cycles, the 45 kWh unit is designed for small vans and light trucks. The company claims it can maintain 90% of its usable capacity in temperatures as low as -40 degrees, and charge instantly even when completely frozen at -30 degrees, which should be a boon for commercial electric vehicles operating in very cold places.
Sodium is more than 1,000 times more abundant than lithium and costs only one-twentieth as much lithium to extract, researchers said. CNC. The chemistry also has the potential to reduce the risk of EV fire. According to CnEVPostthese batteries can be charged at 5 degrees Celsius (full in a fifth of an hour) with a temperature increase of only five degrees.
CATL launched its first sodium-ion battery in 2021, becoming the first major automotive battery manufacturer to do so. The second generation was launched in 2024. Last year, CATL launched Naxtra – a brand for its sodium-ion batteries that will be commercialized, possibly for electric passenger cars.
CnEVPost says CATL’s commercial EV sodium ion battery will begin mass production in July, while the first passenger EV using the company’s sodium ion battery will come from GAC Aion later this year.
Another emerging technology is solid-state batteries – the MG4 Anxin Edition is the first production car with a semi-solid-state battery, while the Verge TS Pro e-bike is the first production vehicle with a fully solid-state battery. Geely is also developing a fully solid-state battery; we should hear more from Hangzhou later this year. These batteries can reportedly produce an astonishing 400 Wh/kg, which is virtually double the energy density of a typical lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack.
Do you want to sell your car? Sell it with Auto.
#CATL #unveils #worlds #massproduced #sodiumion #battery #commercial #electric #vehicles #kWh #paultan.org