CATL Makes Large Announcement on Sodium Batteries for 2026

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Sodium-ion battery growth has been a serious story in 2025, as Chris Arcus has been particularly keen to focus on and clarify. In 2026, I believe it might be the most important battery matter. Battery large CATL, the most important battery producer on the planet, is leaning into the subject and made a notable assertion this week on what we are able to count on within the new yr. Nonetheless, on the identical time, it’s eager to level out that the way forward for the battery business is a combination of lithium and sodium batteries.

The important thing determine CATL talked about this week is that its sodium-ion batteries, which have gotten as much as 175 Wh/kg of vitality density, might be utilized in regular passenger electrical autos offering 500 km (311 miles) of vary in 2026. That’s the present candy spot of what’s anticipated in a brand new electrical automotive. Naturally, this announcement doesn’t point out value, however even when the corporate is referring to extra premium automobiles that may garner greater gross margin and eat early growth prices, that is nonetheless indication that the mass-market goal is on the horizon.

This announcement got here at a provider convention in Ningde, Fujian, China, yesterday in response to Chinese language media retailers.

CATL intends to promote sodium-ion batteries into all kinds of business segments — passenger EVs, industrial EVs, and stationary vitality storage techniques. Included in which might be batteries utilized in battery swapping techniques, which is an space Chris Arcus has additionally centered on.

Naturally, CATL doesn’t wish to or count on to make its many lithium-ion battery manufacturing traces and market choices out of date, and positively no time quickly! Completely different chemistries include totally different advantages, particularly at this stage of growth. Subsequently, CATL is pitching a “dual-star” market wherein “sodium and lithium batteries shine brightly collectively.”

CATL’s new Naxtra sodium-ion division launched passenger EV and industrial EV merchandise in 2025, with the core focus by way of advantages over lithium-ion batteries being operation in excessive temperatures (excessive warmth in addition to excessive chilly). Long term, although, sodium-ion batteries are anticipated to carry common value financial savings in addition to greener credentials (decrease carbon emissions). Sodium-based batteries are additionally anticipated to supply security advantages over lithium-based batteries.

We’ll see what 2026 has in retailer for sodium-ion batteries, from CATL and others, however it’s thrilling to lastly be transitioning from lab/research-focused tales about sodium-ion batteries (which we’ve been overlaying for greater than a decade) to market-focused tales about them, particularly when the information is coming from world battery chief CATL. I believe we are able to depend on extra tales from Chris on this quickly, in addition to from different writers on the CleanTechnica crew. Be happy to share any cool tales you notice on the rising battery expertise with the CleanTechnica author crew as effectively.