If you’re a fan of the automotive world, this name will definitely ring a bell: CATL. It’s the largest battery manufacturer in the world and the supplier of major brands like Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Well now, this Chinese company has decided to shake up the market with an unexpected move: replacing lithium with sodium in its new battery line called Naxtra. With a technology that is cheaper, more abundant and safer, CATL wants to lead a new era of electric mobility. Stick around, we’re going to tell you everything we know about this new battery.
Why abandon lithium?
Lithium has been the undisputed king in the battery world for all these years that people have been looking for an alternative to traditional vehicles, the ones with internal combustion engines. But this year, several problems have come to light: the main one being that it’s expensive and scarce. And now sodium appears, much more abundant, cheaper to extract and doesn’t require such intensive exploitation. And of course, as Ouyang Chuying, co-director of R&D at CATL says, this could reduce dependence on supply chains and open the doors to new energy technologies.
The heart of Naxtra
Naxtra, CATL’s new bet, includes two versions: one for electric passenger cars and another with a 24V Start-Stop system for heavy-duty trucks. Both are designed to operate in extreme conditions, from -40°C to +70°C. For passenger cars, even in extreme cold it maintains 90% of its capacity, a major step forward considering that with other batteries, extreme cold or heat caused a significant loss of capacity.
Technical specs and advantages
The passenger version reaches an energy density of 175 Wh/kg, which puts it on par with many lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. CATL promises up to 500 km of range and more than 10,000 charging cycles, a key figure for reducing maintenance costs.
Improved safety
One of the strongest points of this new technology is its built-in safety. By eliminating materials prone to combustion, CATL’s sodium batteries are less flammable and more stable, so they shouldn’t catch fire like current electric vehicles do… This is, of course, a qualitative leap compared to many batteries in use today.
Is lithium in danger?
Not yet, but it is under the spotlight. Sodium still can’t fully replace lithium in every segment, but it has already started competing with it. The reality is that the electric sector needs a refresh, and CATL seems to have taken the first step.
A new era: sodium batteries
Not only do they promise efficiency and safety, but also a break from lithium dependency. It sounds unbelievable, but this move is pure strategy that seeks not only to benefit consumers, but also manufacturers: sodium is much cheaper to produce and, even though it’s still in the testing phase, it’s already delivering great results.
If Naxtra technology lives up to its promise, we might be witnessing the start of a quiet but unstoppable energy revolution. Lithium is no longer alone at the top. And sodium is ready to take its place. Are we about to see an automotive Game of Thrones?