According to a blogger known as “Electric Car Student”, the first all-new electric car equipped with the latest CATL sodium-ion battery comes from the Changan lineup. The official announcement of all details is expected on February 5, and this well-known Chinese manufacturer of electric vehicles recently started selling its cars in our country as well.
In April last year, CATL introduced its new sodium-ion propulsion battery, which stands out with the highest energy density in the industry at 175 Wh/kg. The battery enables a combined range in hybrid mode of more than 200 kilometers, while the range in fully electric mode is more than 500 kilometers. 5C super-fast charging is also supported, with a projected service life of up to 10,000 charging and discharging cycles.
The first production car with a CATL sodium-ion battery
In extreme conditions, at a temperature of -30 degrees Celsius, the battery needs only 30 minutes to charge from 30 to 80 percent of capacity, with as much as 93 percent of usable energy available. The vehicle can maintain a speed of 120 km/h even when the battery charge is only 10 percent.
The safety of this technology significantly exceeds that of classic lithium-ion batteries. During testing, the battery was subjected to multiple forms of mechanical stress, including compression from multiple directions, puncture with a needle, drilling with an electric drill, and cutting of the battery pack. In all these cases there was no fire or explosion.
At the beginning of this month, the industry’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery was presented. It is the first battery in the world that has passed certification according to the new Chinese national standard GB 38031-2025. The capacity is 45 kWh, and it is intended for use in small and medium delivery vehicles, mini-trucks and similar models.
The entry of Changan vehicles with a CATL sodium-ion battery into series production represents an important step towards wider acceptance of this technology, which is increasingly emerging as a safe, durable and functional alternative to lithium-ion solutions in the world of electric vehicles.