CATL works on development of 2nd-gen sodium-ion battery

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. ("CATL") recently disclosed in an investor relations event that it is developing its second-generation sodium-ion battery, with performance metrics now approaching those of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

"Once large-scale adoption is achieved, sodium-ion batteries will have a certain cost advantage over LFP batteries," the company stated.

CATL introduced its first-generation sodium-ion battery in 2021, which features high energy density, fast charging capability, excellent thermal stability, and strong performance in low temperatures. The battery cell delivers an energy density of 160Wh/kg and can charge to over 80% in just 15 minutes at room temperature. Even in -20°C conditions, it retains more than 90% of its discharge capacity.

CATL also provided an update on the shipment share of its Shenxing and Qilin batteries. The company expects these products to account for 60%-70% of its total LFP and nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery shipments by 2025, up from 30-40% last year. Additionally, since its launch late last year, the Freevoy hybrid vehicle battery has been integrated into over 30 vehicle models.

On the production front, CATL continues to expand its manufacturing footprint. In China, ongoing projects include battery plants in Ningde, Jining, Luoyang, and Beijing. Internationally, CATL is advancing capacity expansion in Germany, Hungary, and Spain through its joint venture with Stellantis, along with a battery supply chain project in Indonesia.

CATL sees data center power solutions as a high-potential growth market. The company noted that global demand for energy storage is steadily increasing, with data centers requiring larger-scale storage capacity. CATL highlighted its UAE storage project, which has reached a scale of 519GWh, stating, "This is only the beginning."

The company emphasized that its energy storage solutions are recognized by customers for their safety and longevity rather than competing solely on low prices, enabling it to maintain sustainable profit margins.