- BAIC announced the completion of its sodium-ion battery prototype, with cell energy density exceeding 170 Wh/kg.
- Sodium-ion batteries are on the verge of commercialization, and CATL and BYD are also accelerating their mass production efforts.
Beijing Automotive Group Co (BAIC Group) has unveiled its progress in sodium-ion batteries, signaling an accelerated push into next-generation power battery technologies.
The company's sodium-ion battery prototype has completed development and reached industry-leading levels, the Chinese automaker said Thursday.
The advancement means its Aurora Battery platform now covers all major technology routes, including lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion batteries, creating an independent battery system tailored for various application scenarios, BAIC said.
The sodium battery pack utilizes a prismatic cell design with a single cell energy density exceeding 170 Wh/kg, placing it in the industry's top tier, according to BAIC.
The battery supports a 4C fast-charging capability, allowing it to be rapidly replenished in about 11 minutes, the company said.
One of the battery's main selling points is its strong charging performance in extreme environments. The company said it can operate stably in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 60°C and maintain an energy output level of over 92% at -20°C.
BAIC also highlighted that the battery did not catch fire or explode during extreme tests such as overcharging, heating, and mechanical impact, a performance that exceeds China's current national standards.
BAIC's research and development team has finalized the prototype design and established the mass production process for the prismatic cells, while applying for about 20 patents covering key areas such as materials, electrolytes, and system integration.
The development places BAIC in a broader race among Chinese automakers to commercialize sodium-ion batteries, as the industry seeks cost and performance alternatives to lithium-ion cells.
CATL and Changan Automobile jointly unveiled a passenger vehicle model equipped with CATL's Naxtra sodium-ion battery last month, which is expected to hit the market in mid-2026.
No further details about the model are currently available. The Naxtra sodium-ion battery, launched in April 2025, boasts an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, comparable to mainstream lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
BYD said last month that its sodium-ion battery has entered the development stage of its third-generation technology platform, achieving a maximum cycle life of 10,000. This demonstrates its potential competitiveness in energy storage and long-life application sectors.
