CATL: Developing Second-Generation Sodium-Ion Battery

According to Gasgoo Auto, CATL revealed during a recent investor relations event that it is currently developing the second-generation sodium-ion battery, with performance indicators already approaching those of LFP batteries. "As long as large-scale application can be achieved, the cost of sodium-ion batteries will also have certain advantages compared to LFP batteries."

CATL's first-generation sodium-ion battery was launched in 2021, featuring high energy density, high C-rate charging, excellent thermal stability, good low-temperature performance, and high integration efficiency. The energy density of the battery cell reaches 160Wh/kg; at room temperature, it can charge to over 80% in 15 minutes, and in low-temperature environments of -20°C, it maintains a discharge retention rate of over 90%.

Additionally, CATL disclosed the shipment proportions of its new products, Shenxing and Qilin batteries. CATL stated that by 2025, the shipment proportion of Shenxing and Qilin batteries in its LFP and NCM products is expected to increase from last year's 30%-40% to 60%-70%. Since its launch at the end of last year, the Xiaoyao battery has been installed in over 30 car models.

Regarding battery capacity construction, CATL's domestic capacity under construction mainly includes bases in Ningde, Jining, Luoyang, and Beijing. Its overseas capacity layout primarily includes factories in Germany and Hungary, a joint venture factory in Spain with Stellantis, and the Indonesia battery industry chain project, all of which are progressing in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, CATL believes that power for data centers represents a high-quality incremental market in the future. It pointed out that the global ESS market demand shows promising growth prospects, with the market requiring high-quality products. Based on current trends, the energy storage allocation for data centers is also increasing. CATL stated, "The UAE project has reached a scale of 519GWh, and this is just the beginning."

CATL emphasized that its ESS products are recognized by owners for their safety and long lifespan, rather than simply securing orders through low prices, enabling the company to maintain a reasonable profit margin.