...lithium hodlers should read the part I highlighted in Bold and Underlined below carefully at least a couple of times.
...as I had cautioned since April last year on this thread, the dominance of lithium in EVs would be expected to wane.
...CATL is clearly positioning themselves to stay ahead in low cost battery technology and cap lithium price growth in the process with an alternate.
...On this prospect, I very much doubt lithium stocks could ever make their way back to their all time highs again. This is a more serious statement than the earlier one I made, which was that lithium stocks would face a recession first before having any chance of a meaningful recovery. Both are most likely IMO.
China’s EV battery giant reveals 310-mile sodium battery to rival lithium dominance
The new sodium-ion batteries will fall under CATL’s new brand Naxtra. Updated: Apr 22, 2025 07:45 AM EST Mrigakshi Dixit
The electric vehicle industry is on the cusp of a major advancement, thanks to Chinese battery giant, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL).
The world’s leading EV battery producer has just unveiled a new sodium-ion battery to reshape the industry.
Reportedly, CATL is gearing up to roll out its sodium-ion batteries, with production slated to begin in June. The new sodium-ion batteries will fall under CATL’s new brand Naxtra.
Company’s chief marketing officer, Luo Jian, stated at a press conference in Shanghai on Monday that the company will achieve mass production by the end of the year.
CATL is a key power source for major automotive players such as Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and BMW. Reuters reported that CATL batteries are found in over 18.32 million cars that are currently on the roads in more than 66 countries. Safe sodium-ion batteries
Long seen as a promising alternative to the dominant lithium-ion technology, sodium-ion offers the potential for lower costs and enhanced safety.
Lithium-ion batteries can be hazardous due to their fire risk when damaged. In comparison, sodium-ion batteries offer a more stable and secure way to store energy.
As per AFP, the first Naxtra units will be smaller and targeted as starter batteries for heavy-duty vehicles. Following this initial phase, the company plans to commence production of larger sodium-ion batteries by December of this year, intended for use in both fully electric and hybrid passenger cars.
The Naxtra battery line is expected to provide electric cars with a 500-kilometer (310-mile) driving range on a single charge.
Cost not revealed
SCMP reported that CATL’s new sodium-ion battery has an energy storage density of 175 Wh/kg, which is comparable to the 185 Wh/kg of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries commonly used in EVs.
However, CATL did not reveal the anticipated cost or its production capacity for this new battery.
CATL’s CEO, Robin Zeng, stated his expectation that sodium-ion batteries will displace half of the lithium, iron, and phosphate batteries in the market.
Interestingly, CATL’s new sodium-ion battery is expected to significantly improve vehicle starting in cold weather, a common challenge for existing batteries that can suffer from sluggishness or failure in low temperatures.
This cold-weather resilience could prove to be a major selling point in regions that often experience low temperatures.
Just ahead of the Shanghai Motor Show, CATL also unveiled the second generation of their Shenxing battery. This fast-charging powerhouse is set to be integrated into 67 cars this year from Chinese brands like Zeekr, Nio, and Avatr. Reportedly, this battery offers an 800-kilometer driving range.
Moreover, CATL is strategically relying on the growth of battery swapping infrastructure. Recently, an electric vehicle company, Nio, unveiled its new EV, Firefly, with swappable battery tech.
This approach allows for quicker refueling times for EVs and could potentially alleviate consumer range anxiety.
Furthermore, the company presented its novel dual battery system at the Shanghai Motor Show.
According to the company’s technical director, Gao Huan, this system enhances safety, especially for autonomous vehicles, by ensuring continued operation even if one of the two batteries fails.
