The “salt battery” is gaining momentum: Chinese automaker Changan has partnered with battery producer CATL to present the world’s first series-production vehicle equipped with a sodium-ion battery. The Nevo A06 model is scheduled to go on sale in mid-2026 and marks a significant step in diversifying battery technologies for electric vehicles. CATL serves as the exclusive partner for sodium-ion technology and will supply its Naxtra batteries across all Changan Group brands, including AVATR, Deepal, Qiyuan, and UNI.
Sodium-ion technology uses sodium instead of lithium as cathode material. Sodium, a component of table salt, is abundantly available and can be extracted more cost-effectively and with lower environmental impact. Production also enables the use of aluminum for current collectors, creating additional cost advantages. Existing manufacturing facilities for lithium-ion batteries can be retrofitted with relatively modest effort. However, sodium-ion batteries have a significant drawback: considerably lower energy density. While modern lithium batteries achieve values exceeding 250 watt-hours per kilogram, the new technology delivers 175 watt-hours per kilogram.
