This week Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) has launched several new electric vehicle (EV) battery technologies that will reduce the reliance on lithium. The Naxtra battery is the first mass-produced sodium ion battery. The use of sodium in batteries is seen as a safer alternative and is more abundant on earth than lithium.
With the emergence of a secondary battery source, supply chain and lithium pricing issues will be reduced. Two Naxtra batteries are offered, one for passenger EVs and the other for heavy-duty truck use.
The battery for passenger EVs can operate in a temperature range of -40°C to +70°C with 90% of its energy capacity still usable even at -40°C. It also has an energy density of 175Wh/kg, which is almost comparable to LFP batteries (~200 Wh/kg). It also offers a range of up to 500km and can last 10,000 charge cycles.
Meanwhile, the Naxtra 24V Heavy-Duty Truck Integrated Start-Stop battery can be used for 8 years. Furthermore, according to CATL, they guarantee that the battery can still be used even after a year of vehicle non-use.