CATL announces second-generation sodium battery, normal discharge at -40°C
CATL is developing a second-generation sodium-ion battery for 2025, operating at -40°C with over 200 Wh/kg energy density. Mass production is expected in 2027, potentially replacing lithium-ion batteries in small vehicles.
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CATL has announced the development of its second-generation sodium-ion battery, which is set to launch in 2025. This new battery can operate normally at extremely low temperatures, down to -40°C, and boasts improved safety and low-temperature resistance while aiming for an energy density exceeding 200 Wh/kg. However, mass production is not expected until 2027. Sodium-ion batteries, while having better safety characteristics than lithium-ion batteries, currently have lower energy density and are more expensive due to smaller production scales. BYD is also advancing its sodium-ion battery technology, targeting cost reductions to match lithium iron phosphate batteries by 2025. CATL's first-generation sodium-ion battery was introduced in 2021, gaining attention for its high energy density and fast charging capabilities. The new sodium-ion batteries are anticipated to replace 20-30% of lithium-ion phosphate batteries in small or short-range vehicles. Meanwhile, BYD has begun construction on a sodium-ion battery project with an annual capacity of 30 GWh, aiming for energy densities of 105 Wh/kg initially, increasing to 130 Wh/kg.
- CATL's second-generation sodium-ion battery can discharge at -40°C.
- The battery aims for an energy density of over 200 Wh/kg, with mass production expected in 2027.
- Sodium-ion batteries are currently more expensive than lithium-ion batteries due to lower production scales.
- BYD is also developing sodium-ion technology, targeting cost parity with lithium iron phosphate batteries by 2025.
- The new batteries may replace a significant portion of lithium-ion phosphate batteries in small vehicles.
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1 commentsIn terms of the American market:
150 wh/kg sodium ion (which should pack at 90% with Cell-to-Pack since it is much safer than Lithium ion NMC chemistry) should be about a 250-300 mile Toyota Corolla type car.
200 wh/kg, which CATL is soon to come, should enable 350-400 mile cars.
Sodium Ion cells should be about 40% or less the cost of lithium ion NMC, and I'm guessing even less with really big economies of scale. That should equate to a fundamental price advantage of EV vehicles over ICEs in drivetrain cost, hopefully to the tune of $5000 or so.
But what I think the Sodium Ion cell enables is a $10,000 city car of a couple hundred miles of range, which is particularly important to China, India, and heck any urbanized area, plus a whole host of mopeds, kei cars, scooters, etc, all being able to economically drop the ICE, especially the two-stroke variants.
I hope to see these enter the lawncare markets too, converting what are now premium/luxury products like eGo which are more expensive than combustion tools, to ones that are cheaper than them fundamentally.
The entire tool market is still hideously expensive for extra batteries, it is obvious the companies are profit taking.
The only thing better would be Sodium-Sulfur which would hopefully double density, but we shall see.
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