The EV industry has reached a quiet but important milestone. For the first time, a mass-produced passenger EV is set to use a sodium-ion battery, a technology long discussed but never deployed at this scale. The car in question is the Changan Nevo A06, developed by Changan Automobile and powered by batteries from CATL.

The announcement follows extensive winter testing in Inner Mongolia, where temperatures regularly drop well below what most EVs are designed to handle. According to the companies involved, the Nevo A06 was able to charge normally at around -30°C and continued operating at temperatures as low as -50°C. At -40°C, the battery reportedly retained more than 90% of its original capacity, a level of performance that is difficult to achieve with conventional lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

The vehicle uses CATL’s Naxtra sodium-ion battery pack, which the company says is the first of its kind certified for use in passenger cars. The initial version has a capacity of 45 kWh and delivers a claimed range of just over 400 km on China’s CLTC test cycle.

On paper, that puts it close to entry-level LFP-based EVs, but with far better cold-weather behavior. CATL says the pack can deliver several times more power than comparable LFP batteries at sub-zero temperatures, helping maintain acceleration and cabin heating without heavy range loss.

Sodium-ion batteries have drawn attention partly because they avoid lithium altogether. Sodium is cheaper, more abundant, and less vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions. Safety is another factor: CATL says the Naxtra cells are far more resistant to thermal runaway and have passed extreme abuse tests without catching fire.

CATL describes this as the beginning of a “dual-chemistry” phase for EVs, where sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries coexist depending on climate, cost, and use case. The Nevo A06 is expected to launch in China around mid-2026, with sodium-ion packs eventually spreading across Changan’s wider lineup.

For now, this remains a China-focused rollout. Still, it’s a clear signal that sodium-ion batteries are no longer just a lab experiment. In cold regions especially, they may soon offer a practical alternative to lithium-based EVs, without the usual compromises.

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The electric vehicle (EV) industry ended 2025 with a major shift. Sodium-ion batteries, long viewed as a secondary technology, have now become a serious contender in the EV battery race.

Two major developments marked this shift: CATL’s commercial production of its Naxtra sodium-ion cells and Zhaona New Energy’s announcement of a high-density solid-state sodium-ion prototype. These breakthroughs could push sodium to the front of the pack in affordable and sustainable battery technology.

Sodium Clears the Energy Hurdle

CATL launched its Naxtra sodium-ion brand in April 2025. Mass production began in December, and the new cells reached an energy density of 175 Wh/kg. This performance exceeded many lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which typically range between 160 and 170 Wh/kg. The Naxtra cells now allow full-size EVs to achieve up to 500 kilometers of range. This puts sodium-ion batteries in direct competition with mainstream lithium-based alternatives.

Zhaona New Energy added another milestone in December. The company revealed a solid-state sodium-ion battery that delivers an energy density of 348.5 Wh/kg. The design uses a ceramic-coated structure and eliminates the anode, which improves both energy density and long-term stability. This result brings sodium-ion performance closer to high-end nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium batteries.

Lower Cost, Better in Cold, Safer to Ship

Sodium-ion batteries provide three clear advantages: cost reduction, cold-weather reliability, and shipping safety.

Sodium is inexpensive and widely available. It does not require high-cost materials like cobalt or nickel and can be sourced from sea salt. It also avoids copper by using aluminum current collectors. This allows battery makers to cut production costs significantly. Analysts estimate sodium-ion cells could drop to $40/kWh, far lower than current LFP costs, which hover around $70/kWh. That price point makes $20,000 EVs commercially viable without subsidies.

In cold climates, sodium-ion cells show strong performance. The Naxtra batteries retain 90% of their capacity even at -40°C. This addresses one of lithium’s biggest flaws, significant range loss in freezing conditions.

Sodium-ion batteries can also be safely discharged to 0.0V without causing damage, unlike lithium batteries, which must retain a minimum charge to avoid internal short circuits. This zero-voltage tolerance improves safety during storage and transportation by reducing the risk of thermal runaway. It also allows simpler packaging and helps lower overall shipping and handling costs.

Mixing Sodium and Lithium

Battery makers are increasingly exploring a dual-chemistry approach rather than relying on a single cell type. In these hybrid concepts, sodium-ion cells are used for better cold-weather performance, fast charge and discharge, and lower costs, while lithium-ion cells continue to provide high energy density for long driving range.

Such designs aim to balance performance and cost, with long-range figures still driven mainly by lithium-ion chemistry rather than sodium-ion alone. The mixed-chemistry approach gives automakers more flexibility to tune battery behavior for different climates, use cases, and regional requirements, although large-scale commercial deployment is still in the early stages.

Global Race to Build with Salt

Sodium-ion battery production is scaling rapidly worldwide, with China leading the push through companies such as CATL, BYD, and HiNa Battery. BYD’s new plant in Qinghai is already producing sodium-ion cells for entry-level electric vehicles.

India is also increasing investment via players like Reliance and KPIT, focusing on applications such as three-wheelers and light commercial vehicles. In Europe, France-based TIAMAT is developing fast-charging sodium-ion cells, while in the U.S., companies like Natron Energy are targeting grid-scale energy storage solutions.

Sodium’s wide availability gives countries an opportunity to reduce dependence on lithium imports. It also removes the need for cobalt and nickel mining, which comes with high environmental and ethical costs. Sodium-ion batteries are easier to recycle and meet new sustainability standards in Europe and other regions.

Will Sodium Replace Lithium?

Not entirely. Lithium batteries still dominate in performance-heavy applications such as sports cars and long-haul trucks. They remain lighter and more compact for the same energy capacity. However, sodium-ion batteries now offer a better fit for most consumer EVs. They reduce costs, improve cold-weather performance, and simplify logistics. These advantages make sodium a more practical choice for mass adoption.

The sodium-ion shift represents more than a new battery type. It changes the structure of the EV industry. By solving cost, climate, and safety challenges at once, sodium-ion batteries are well-positioned to power the next phase of global electrification.

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Sodium-ion batteries, once sidelined by falling lithium prices, are back in focus. This time, the shift appears to be driven by changing market conditions and renewed interest from customers.

According to recent reports, the world’s largest battery maker is accelerating plans for mass production of its sodium-ion lineup, branded Naxtra, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. The move follows a rebound in lithium carbonate prices, which had plunged after 2022. With mining increasingly regulated, lithium costs have started rising again, narrowing the gap that once made lithium iron phosphate (LFP) the obvious choice.

As a result, sodium-ion cells are once again becoming cheaper to manufacture than many LFP batteries. CATL’s latest sodium-ion technology also appears to address one of the category’s long-standing weaknesses: energy density. The company claims its Naxtra cells reach around 175 Wh/kg, a record for sodium-ion batteries and close to what mainstream LFP packs offer today in electric vehicles and stationary storage. While newer LFP designs are already pushing beyond 200 Wh/kg—such as CATL’s 205 Wh/kg cells—ongoing improvements in sodium-ion technology could narrow that gap further in the coming years.

Cold-weather performance is another key selling point. CATL says the batteries can operate reliably between -40°C and 70°C, retaining usable capacity even in extreme conditions. Vehicles using the packs are claimed to achieve more than 300 miles of range in winter environments, though real-world results will likely vary.

The Naxtra lineup has reportedly become the first commercial sodium-ion battery to pass China’s latest safety and performance standards. Intended uses range from electric cars and commercial fleets to grid storage and battery-swap stations. While CATL has not named its customers, it says several are already preparing for deliveries.

Sodium-ion technology is also starting to appear at the consumer level. Starter batteries based on the chemistry are now available online, with better cold-weather resilience than traditional lead-acid units.

With lithium supply dynamics evolving again, CATL appears to be positioning sodium-ion batteries as a long-term complement rather than a replacement.

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