The internet was alive with news of a CATL super fast battery, when we turned on our phones this morning. We imagine a hastily-convened meeting at BYD too, as the battery-making giants continue to battle for top spot. We analyze this news, as we wonder could this battery enable electric vehicles to finally match gasoline?
What’s Different About the CATL Super Fast Battery?
South China Morning Post confirms that CATL will begin mass-producing its NAXTRA sodium-ion battery pack by the end of 2025. This is a relatively new technology, that could be cheaper, better, and safer than lithium-ion.
“Sodium-ion battery technology is no longer a research achievement in laboratories,” a CATL spokesperson told reporters. “We have achieved a breakthrough not only in terms of energy storage density and cost, but also found a new key to environmental protection.”
Lithium is a scarce resource, only available in commercial quantities in a few regions of the world. Lithium-ion batteries team this metal with cobalt, which is even scarcer. The CATL super fast battery uses sodium-ions as energy carrier instead. Sodium by contrast is abundant, even the salty water in the ocean contains sodium.
Why CATL Chose Sodium-Ion for Its Leap Forward
Robin Zeng Yuqun is CATL’s founder and chief executive. He believes his sodium batteries will be superior in terms of low temperature performance, and charging rate as well. It’s worth noting here that sodium batteries are almost as energy-dense as lithium ones.
However, and this could be Zeng’s best advantage, his company recently unveiled a charging system that delivers a 300-mile driving range in 5 minutes. This rates it superior to what both Tesla and Mercedes-Benz have on offer.
This is great news for an electric vehicle industry, that has struggled to find its feet outside China. However, even CATL’s latest breakthrough still lags behind what its gasoline counterparts deliver.
More Information
New Sodium Material Brings Fresh Hope
New Boost to Sodium-Ion Battery Performance
Preview Image: Sodium-Ion Battery System
