- CATL and HyperStrong signed a three-year, 60 GWh sodium-ion battery order for energy storage.
- The milestone agreement marks the official entry of sodium-ion batteries into large-scale mass production.
CATL, the world's top battery maker, has secured the largest sodium-ion battery order to date, marking a critical turning point for the commercialization of a novel technology seen as a lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
CATL announced a strategic partnership with Chinese energy storage system provider HyperStrong on Monday in its headquarters city of Ningde, Fujian province.
The two parties signed a three-year supply agreement for 60 GWh of sodium-ion batteries for energy storage, according to a press release.
The partnership demonstrates that CATL has overcome the full-chain technical challenges of mass-producing sodium-ion batteries, the company said.
This equips the firm with large-scale delivery capabilities, initiating a new phase of explosive growth for the global sodium battery industry, it said.
To achieve this technological breakthrough, CATL has invested nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.47 billion) in sodium battery research and development since 2016.
The company has significantly increased the energy density of its sodium batteries and adopted a platform design with the same dimensions as its lithium-ion batteries, reducing adaptation costs.
The novel battery performs exceptionally well in extreme temperatures, generates less heat during operation, and offers superior safety and stability.
In long-duration energy storage applications, it can simplify the system architecture and enhance the overall economic efficiency of power stations.
Robin Zeng, chairman of CATL, previously said that in the long run, sodium-ion batteries are expected to replace 30% to 40% of the existing market share.
The company is currently developing its sixth-generation sodium battery to accommodate more diverse application scenarios.
Beyond energy storage, CATL is also actively promoting the commercial application of sodium-ion batteries in the passenger vehicle market.
In February this year, the company and Changan Automobile jointly unveiled the world's first mass-produced passenger vehicle powered by sodium-ion batteries.
The EV, expected to hit the market in mid-2026, will be equipped with CATL's Naxtra battery. Under extreme cold conditions, the battery's discharge power is nearly three times that of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery of the same capacity.
With the comprehensive deployment of sodium-ion batteries in both energy storage and motive power sectors, CATL is seeking to establish a dominant position in this new chemical system.
The company is already the world's largest EV battery supplier, holding a 39.2% global market share for the full year of 2025, according to data from South Korean market research firm SNE Research.
($1 = 6.8232 yuan)
