- Eve Energy will invest about RMB 1 billion ($140 million) in this sodium-ion battery project, with an annual production capacity planned at 2 GWh.
- The project also includes an AI and robotics center covering the entire process from robotics R&D to mass production.
Chinese power battery maker Eve Energy (SHE: 300014) has commenced construction of a sodium battery business headquarters, stepping up its bet on new battery technologies.
The project -- which also includes an AI robotics center -- began construction on December 22 at District D of Eve Energy's headquarters in Huizhou, Guangdong.
The sodium-ion battery project at this site involves a total investment of about RMB 1 billion ($140 million), with a planned total floor area of about 90,000 square meters. Functions include R&D, pilot production, and mass production.
The sodium-ion battery project has a planned annual production capacity of 2 GWh. Eve Energy also plans to develop self-degradable, non-combustible sodium-ion battery products, according to the company.
Regarding AI and robotics, the project includes a 50,000-square-meter Jinyuan robotics AI center covering the entire robotics R&D and mass production process.
Upon completion, the campus will become China's leading base for sodium battery industrialization and the integration of AI and robotics applications, Eve Energy said.
Eve Energy ranks among China's largest battery manufacturers. In November, it secured fifth place with 3.59 GWh of battery installations and a 3.84 percent market share, according to data released earlier this month by the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA).
In the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market from January to October, Eve Energy held a 2.6 percent share, placing it ninth, per data from South Korean market research firm SNE Research.
Sodium batteries have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their readily available raw materials and superior low-temperature performance.
China's largest battery maker CATL (HKG: 3750, SHE: 300750) launched its second-generation sodium-ion battery product, Naxtra, in April this year.
In the robotics field, CATL has also begun deploying humanoid robots in its factories.
Last week, CATL announced the launch of battery pack production lines enabled by humanoid robots at its Luoyang, Henan manufacturing base -- marking the world's first large-scale battery pack production line utilizing humanoid robots.
($1 = RMB 7.0374)
