(Yicai) April 22 -- Contemporary Amperex Technology has become the first company in the battery industry to announce plans to start mass producing sodium-ion batteries before the end of this year.

The Chinese firm unveiled its new sodium-ion battery brand Naxtra at its Tech Day event in Shanghai yesterday. Naxtra's product lineup includes batteries for passenger vehicles and 24-volt start-stop integrated batteries for heavy-duty trucks. Their mass production is scheduled to begin in December.

The Naxtra batteries for passenger cars have an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram, almost the same as lithium-iron phosphate batteries. They support fast charging, enable hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles to achieve ranges of 200 and 500 kilometers, respectively, and can maintain full power even at temperatures as low as minus 40°C.

The 24V integrated start-stop batteries for heavy-duty trucks have a service life of over eight years, which can reduce the total lifecycle costs by 61 percent compared with traditional lead-acid batteries. They are expected to enter mass production in June.

Sodium-ion batteries have a number of advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries, including lower costs, as sodium salts are the main electrode, better safety, and use in lower-temperature environments. CATL unveiled its first sodium-ion battery in 2021.

Naxtra's batteries had "no fire, no explosion" incidents during testing, even under extreme conditions, such as multi-directional compression, needle penetration, electric drill piercing, and battery saw-cutting, according to Gao Huan, chief technology officer at CATL's EV business.

At yesterday's event, CATL also released the second generation of its Shenxing fast-charging battery, which enables an 800-km driving range and can charge up to 80 percent in only 15 minutes and at temperatures as low as minus 10°C.

Moreover, CATL showcased its Freevoy dual-power battery, which features two "independent energy zones" to optimize performance for various cost segments and application scenarios.

The Shenzhen-based firm presented three dual-core solutions: Naxtra plus LFP batteries with self-generating negative electrodes for excellent low‑temperature performance; Naxtra plus LFP batteries for a 1,000-km range; and ternary battery plus LFP batteries for higher energy capacity and faster charging.

CATL's spending on research and development exceeds that of all of its competitors combined, with total investment exceeding CNY70 billion (USD9.8 billion) over the past decade, Chairman Robin Zeng said during his speech at Tech Day.

Editor: Futura Costaglione