Battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) has unveiled its new Naxtra battery brand featuring next-generation sodium-ion battery packs. These come in two variants: one designed for passenger cars and another 24V integrated start-stop battery developed specifically for heavy-duty trucks. The company claims that both batteries are built for full temperature range performance, operating reliably between -40°C and +70°C.
CATL claims that the passenger car battery retains 90% of its power even in extreme cold at -40°C, and shows no significant degradation in output even when only 10% of its charge remains. The Naxtra passenger EV battery is also able to deliver a driving range of up to 500 kilometres on a single charge and supporting over 10,000 charge-discharge cycles
On the other hand, the Naxtra 24V integrated battery for heavy-duty trucks offers robust features, including deep-discharge support, one-click starting in temperatures as low as -40°C, and even the ability to start after sitting unused for a year. Its service life exceeds eight years and it is said to reduce total life cycle costs by 61% compared to conventional lead-acid batteries, potentially transforming battery economics in commercial transport.
The latest sodium-ion battery achieves an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), which nearly matches the performance of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries widely used in China’s EV market. This represents a substantial improvement over earlier industry expectations, which placed sodium-ion energy density at around 140 Wh/kg just a few years ago.
Gao Huan, chief technology officer for EV business at CATL, claims sodium-ion batteries not only compete with LFP in terms of energy density, but also exceed existing technologies in charging speed and low-temperature performance. Ouyang Chuying, Co-President for Research and Development at CATL, noted that sodium-ion batteries could eventually become more affordable than their lithium-ion counterparts. However, the company has yet to reveal production costs or manufacturing capacity.
In addition to the Naxtra battery line, CATL introduced the second generation of its Shenxing fast-charging battery. This upgraded version can provide up to 520 kilometres of range from a five-minute charge and reaches 80% capacity in just 15 minutes, even in sub-zero weather.
More than 67 new EV models are expected to feature Shenxing batteries this year, although CATL did not specify how many would be equipped with the first- or second-generation versions.
(Source: CNEVPOST, Reuters, SCMP)
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