CATL Secures World’s Largest Sodium-Ion Battery Order with 60GWh Deal

On April 27, CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) formalized a strategic sodium-ion battery cooperation with Hyperstrong in Ningde, Fujian province. The sweeping three‑year framework includes a 60 GWh sodium‑ion battery supply commitment — the largest volume order ever placed for sodium battery technology globally.

As CATL’s first strategic partner for sodium‑based energy storage, Hyperstrong will engage in joint technology R&D, product application engineering, and project deployment. The signing ceremony was attended by senior executives: Li Yue, Vice President of CATL’s Zero‑Carbon Energy Business Unit (China region), and Zhao Qing, Vice President of Hyperstrong, who signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies.

The partnership officially validates that CATL has resolved all remaining mass‑production challenges across the sodium‑ion cell value chain, from material design to process stability. The company confirmed it now possesses large‑scale delivery capabilities. Industry observers note that this order triggers an inflection point for global sodium‑ion battery industrialization, moving from pilot lines to commercial gigawatt‑scale deployment.

To achieve high energy density, CATL applied morphology control and surface modification engineering on cathode materials. On the process side, proprietary breakthroughs — including angstrom‑level pore size regulation, surface molecular water‑locking, and adaptive dynamic formation — systematically solved long‑standing production issues such as hard‑carbon electrode foaming and strict humidity control. These innovations ensure superior consistency across high‑volume manufacturing lines.

Notably, CATL designed its sodium‑ion prismatic cells using the same form‑factor platform as its lithium‑ion products. This platform‑compatible approach guarantees high interoperability with existing lithium battery production equipment and supply chains, dramatically lowering adaptation costs and shortening the timeline from cell design to grid‑scale storage projects or vehicle integration.

Back in March 2025, Ni Jun, Chief Manufacturing Officer at CATL (president of engineering and R&D systems), disclosed the company’s robust pipeline for next‑generation battery technologies: sodium‑ion, condensed matter, all‑solid‑state, and even lithium‑air batteries remain under active development. CATL’s “Naxin” sodium‑ion battery brand, unveiled in 2024, entered mass production and market rollout in 2025.

In April 2025, CATL launched the world’s first sodium‑ion battery compliant with new Chinese national standards (GB). That cell delivers an industry‑leading gravimetric energy density of 175 Wh/kg, enabling plug‑in hybrids to achieve over 200 km of electric range on sodium chemistry, while battery‑electric vehicles can exceed 500 km per charge. The cell supports 5C ultra‑fast charging and provides an exceptional cycle life of 10,000 cycles.

During a supplier conference on December 28, 2025, CATL officially announced that starting from 2026, sodium batteries would be deployed at scale across multiple sectors: battery‑swap stations, passenger EVs, commercial vehicles, and stationary energy storage. The company envisions a “sodium‑lithium dual‑star” era where both chemistries complement each other depending on application scenarios.

The Naxin product family consists of two main offerings: “Naxin Power Battery” for electric vehicles and “Naxin 24V Heavy‑Duty Truck Starter & Auxiliary Battery.” Both versions operate reliably across a full‑temperature range from -40°C to 70°C. CATL stated that Naxin batteries completely resolve range and power degradation in extreme cold winter conditions. For a typical passenger car with a 2.95‑meter wheelbase, the hybrid variant delivers over 200 km of all‑electric range, while the full‑electric variant surpasses 500 km — adequate for daily commuting and long‑distance winter travel.

In an investor relations report dated October 20, 2025, CATL highlighted inherent advantages of sodium‑ion technology: superior low‑temperature discharge performance, a lower carbon footprint (thanks to abundant and easily extractable sodium resources), and enhanced safety compared to some lithium‑ion formulations. These attributes make sodium batteries highly competitive for both passenger EV and commercial powertrain applications.

Caixin reported in January 2026, citing multiple independent sources, that CATL’s Naxin batteries would undergo public winter testing in passenger vehicles. The participating models initially include Changan Auto’s Oshan series, with GAC Group and JAC Motors expected to follow shortly. In February 2026, Changan Auto officially announced a joint program with CATL to introduce sodium‑ion batteries across several of its brands, marking a major carmaker commitment to sodium‑based mobility.

Gao Huan, Chief Technology Officer at CATL, previously disclosed that the company’s sodium‑ion cells have reached 175 Wh/kg (cell‑level) and will allow battery‑electric vehicles to achieve over 400 km of range today, with potential upgrades to 500 km or even 600 km. For extended‑range hybrids (EREVs), sodium batteries can deliver 300–400 km of pure electric driving range, substantially cutting fuel consumption in cold climates. With this technology roadmap, CATL aims to make sodium batteries a cornerstone of global decarbonization.

Edit by paco

Last Update:2026-04-28 09:43:59