CATL’s Naxtra sodium-ion batteries hit 175 Wh/kg, target 2026 mass production, and promise strong cold-weather performance and safety for EVs and grid storage.
© A. Krivonosov
Sodium-ion batteries are back in the spotlight, and the world’s largest battery maker, CATL, is driving that renewed attention. The company reports significant progress on its sodium-ion cells under the Naxtra brand and is preparing to launch mass production, with deliveries slated to begin in 2026.
The renewed interest stems from shifting market conditions. After lithium prices plunged post-2022, the cost of lithium carbonate has begun to climb again amid tighter regulation of mining. That shift has narrowed the price gap between lithium iron phosphate batteries and alternative chemistries, making sodium-ion look economically compelling once more.
CATL’s headline figure is a record energy density for sodium-ion cells—around 175 Wh/kg. That brings the technology noticeably closer to today’s LFP batteries, which are widely used in electric vehicles and stationary energy storage. Although the most advanced LFP cells already exceed 200 Wh/kg, CATL maintains that further improvements could help sodium-ion close much of the remaining gap.
Another selling point is robust performance in extreme temperatures, from -40 to +70 °C. According to the company, EVs equipped with these batteries could maintain a driving range of over 300 miles even in winter, though real-world results will depend on many factors.
CATL also says Naxtra is the first commercial sodium-ion battery to pass current Chinese safety and reliability standards. The cells are intended not only for passenger EVs, but also for commercial transport, grid-scale storage, and fast battery-swap stations. The company is already working with customers preparing for initial deliveries.
If these targets translate to production at scale, sodium-ion could carve out a practical niche alongside LFP—especially where cost sensitivity and cold-weather resilience carry extra weight.