Contemporary Amperex Technology has announced plans to start mass producing sodium-ion batteries this year, making the Chinese battery giant the first to achieve such milestone.

CATL unveiled its sodium-ion battery brand Naxtra at the Tech Day event in Shanghai yesterday. Naxtra's product line includes batteries for passenger vehicles and 24-volt start-stop integrated batteries for heavy-duty trucks.

Naxtra's sodium-ion batteries for passenger cars have an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram, almost the same as lithium-iron phosphate batteries. They support fast charging, enable hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles to achieve ranges of 200 and 500 kilometers, respectively, and can maintain full power with temperatures as low as minus 40°C. They will kick off mass production in December.

The 24V integrated start-stop batteries for heavy-duty trucks have a service life of over eight years, which can reduce the total lifecycle costs by 61 percent compared with traditional lead-acid batteries. They are expected to enter mass production in June.

Sodium-ion batteries work very similarly to LFP batteries while being cheaper, as sodium salts are the main electrode. They can be used in lower-temperature environments and provide enhanced safety. CATL unveiled its first sodium-ion battery in 2021.

Naxtra's batteries had "no fire, no explosion" incidents during testing, even under extreme conditions, such as multi-directional compression, needle penetration, electric drill piercing, and battery saw-cutting, according to Gao Huan, chief technology officer of CATL's domestic passenger and commercial business divisions.

At yesterday's event, CATL also released the second generation of its Shenxing fast-charging battery, which enables an 800-km driving range and can charge up to 80 percent in only 15 minutes and temperatures as low as minus 10°C.

Moreover, CATL showcased its Freevoy dual-power battery, which features two "independent energy zones" to optimize performance for various cost segments and application scenarios.

The Shenzhen-based company presented three dual-core solutions. The first is sodium-ion batteries paired with LFP batteries with self-generating negative electrodes to take full advantage of the former's low-temperature performance. The second is the combination of sodium-ion and LFP batteries, which enables a 1,000-km range. The third combines ternary with LFP batteries for higher energy capacity and faster charging.

CATL's research and development investment exceeds that of all its competitors combined, as the company's total spending exceeded CNY70 billion (USD9.8 billion) over the past decade, Chairman Robin Zeng said during his speech at Tech Day.