China’s Changan Automobile unveiled its global sodium-ion battery strategy and introduced the Nevo (Qiyuan) A06, which it says is the first mass-produced passenger vehicle powered by a sodium-ion battery, marking a shift beyond conventional lithium-based electric vehicle technology.
The Nevo A06 uses a 45 kWh sodium-ion battery supplied by CATL under its Naxtra brand, delivering an initial driving range of more than 400 km on a single charge. The battery adopts CATL’s third-generation cell-to-pack integration system and reaches a cell energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, according to company information.
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Changan said testing in severe winter conditions demonstrated stronger low-temperature performance compared with lithium iron phosphate batteries of similar capacity. Trial data showed discharge power at minus 30 degrees Celsius was significantly higher, while capacity retention remained above 90% at minus 40 degrees.
The automaker also highlighted safety performance, saying the battery exceeded national standards and remained stable during extreme stress tests, including extrusion, drilling and cutting while fully charged, without signs of fire or explosion. It added that the battery continued to discharge normally even after physical damage.
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Changan said brands including Avatr, Deepal, Nevo and Uni will gradually integrate CATL’s sodium-ion batteries into future models, positioning the technology as an option for markets where cold climates can sharply reduce the effective range of lithium-ion electric vehicles.
Source: CNC