First sodium-ion battery with 300 miles range to be mass-produced by CATL as it claims extreme capacity retention

[Redaktion]

The world's biggest EV battery maker has piloted mass production of the first long-range sodium-ion packs for passenger cars. The Naxtra sodium-ion battery offers the highest energy density in the category, and retains its charge even at freezing temperatures.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/First-sodium-ion-battery-with-300-miles-range-to-be-mass-produced-by-CATL-as-it-claims-extreme-capacity-retention.1002792.0.html

[heffeque]

This is great news.

I can't begin to describe how important this first step is.

Cheap, eco-friendly, long lasting, resistant, safe...
They're the best candidate to replace LFP, and perfect for stationary batteries, from large electric grid stabilizers, to small UPS batteries.

NMC will still rule for some time on the longest range cars, but solid electrolyte batteries will change that before the end of the decade.

[Terror Byte]

The energy denisty of these sodium ion batteries is way behind current LFP state of the art by CATL themselves, whihc is at 330kW/kg and BYD is using 210kW/kg batteries. And further to that LMFP batteries are coming with 20% higher energy density than LFP and lower operating voltage.

Other than safety and the fact sodium is abundant compared to Li, for car usage sodium makes little sense with a much smaller energy density. EV's are already far too heavy due to the low energy density of current battery tech compared to petrol. We don't need to be going backward. Sodium Ion batteries are better suited to non-automotive uses.

[anan]

These absolutely make sense in small cars. And as far as I know - only small city cars have been released in China that use these batteries. Them having a lifespan of 5x of LFP and 10x of NMC could save small EVs. The original Leaf and many other cars with ~100 km range depreciated a lot due to range loss with age. These go through charge cycles very fast. After 5 years you are left with 50% / 50km range. Even low mileage EVs. Those are cheap even in good condition. And they loose initial buyers as repeat customers.