Ningde, China – Global battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has officially announced significant technological advancements in its sodium-ion battery product line, with a strategic roadmap for large-scale expansion across multiple sectors through 2026. The announcement, made during the company’s annual supplier conference in late December 2025, marks a pivotal step in the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries and signals the dawn of a “sodium-lithium complementary” era in the new energy industry.

Core Technology Breakthroughs: The “Naxtra” Battery Platform

CATL’s sodium-ion battery brand, ”Naxtra,” represents a leap forward in performance, overcoming historical limitations of sodium-based technology. The key breakthroughs include:

• A sodium-ion battery made for passenger vehicles has a new world record for the highest energy density of 175 Wh/kg. This is comparable to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) type batteries due to the high energy density providing vehicles with over 500 km of pure electric range.
• Able to be used at extreme temperatures, sodium-ion batteries are rated at operating temperatures from -40 to +70 °C. At the extreme cold temperature of -40 °C, the battery retains 90% of its usable capacity, eliminating “range anxiety” for individuals living in high-latitude regions or in winter.
• Because of sodium’s intrinsically safe nature, sodium-ion batteries have gone through numerous safety tests, including nail penetration and crushing, with no incidents of fire or explosion. The sodium-ion battery technology also has a cycle life of greater than 10,000 cycles, which provides substantial savings in the long-term maintenance of the battery system because of the reduced cost of replacing batteries after such a long life. A sodium-ion battery manufacturer has also created its own proprietary self-generating anode technology that gives the sodium-ion battery a 60% increase in volumetric energy density.

Dual-Core Architecture: Integrating Sodium with Other Chemistries

Beyond standalone sodium-ion batteries, CATL has pioneered an innovative ”Dual-Core” battery architecture that intelligently combines sodium-ion cells with other battery chemistries within a single pack. This system features two independent energy zones managed by an intelligent software algorithm that allocates power based on driving conditions.

The “Sodium Iron” Spatial Battery combines a sodium-ion cell and an LFP cell into one battery system. This combination makes the sodium-ion battery’s good performance at low temperatures work together with the high energy density of the LFP battery. With this type of battery configuration, vehicles can achieve over 700 km of range using a wheelbase of 2.75 m.

Commercialization Plan: multi-sector growth model by 2026

CATL has clearly outlined their commercialization plan, targeting large-scale deployment of sodium-ion batteries across four major sectors in 2026:

1. Passenger Vehicles: CATL is developing sodium-ion batteries with various automotive partners to be used in new models targeting price-sensitive consumers and cold weather environments.
2. Commercial Vehicles: In June 2025, the Naxtra 24V Start-Stop Battery for Heavy-Duty Trucks began mass production. The Naxtra 24V has an 8-year lifespan, with 61% lower total lifecycle costs when compared to traditional lead-acid batteries, helping to usher in a new “era without lead” for commercial vehicles.
3. Battery Swapping Bridges: Sodium-ion battery cost and safety features make them well-suited for broad-based battery-swapping systems like CATL’s Qiji network.
4. Energy Storage Systems (ESS): The technology provides a new, stable, and lower-cost option for large-scale stationary energy storage projects.

Strategic Vision: “Twin Stars” of Sodium and Lithium

CATL’s expansion plan is rooted in a complementary strategy rather than outright replacement. The company envisions a future where ”sodium-lithium twin stars shine together”. In this framework, lithium-ion batteries (including LFP and ternary) will continue to dominate applications requiring the highest energy density and performance. In contrast, sodium-ion batteries will capitalize on their advantages in cost, low-temperature operation, safety, and abundant raw materials to capture specific market segments. This dual-path approach is designed to diversify the energy supply chain, reduce dependence on scarce lithium resources, and accelerate the overall adoption of electrification.

Market and Industry Implications

The formal push by the world’s largest battery manufacturer into sodium-ion technology is a major industry signal. It validates the maturity of the technology and is expected to spur investment and competition across the supply chain. With its superior performance in cold climates, sodium-ion technology could unlock the electric vehicle market in colder regions globally. Furthermore, its potential to replace lead-acid batteries and certain LFP applications in lower-range vehicles, two-wheelers, and base station backup power presents a vast market opportunity.

Looking Ahead

Through its extensive patent portfolio of more than 350 patents on related technologies, as well as its established project vision through 2026, CATL is taking a strong position to establish itself not just as a manufacturer of batteries, but also as one of the leaders in the Renewable Energy Sector. From now through 2026 it will be a critical time for CATL to demonstrate its success in manufacturing sodium-ion batteries on a large scale, developing supply chains and having them accepted by the marketplace; if CATL is successful, their strategy will dramatically change the future development of energy storage, electric transportation and battery performance making sustainable technologies more affordable and ultimately resulting in greater utilization and effectiveness of those technologies.