BAIC reports progress on sodium-ion batteries
Chinese electric vehicle portals, citing official company statements, report that BAIC has completed the prototype development of a sodium-ion battery pack. The pack uses a prismatic cell format and, according to internal cell-level tests, achieves an energy density of 170 Wh/kg—comparable to LFP batteries. The prototype is also said to operate stably across a wide temperature range, from -40 °C to 60 °C.
The system is further designed to support a charging rate of 4C. The ‘C’ denotes the ratio of battery capacity to charging power. For example, at 1C, an 80 kWh battery can be charged at a maximum of 80 kW. At 4C, the same battery could theoretically be charged at four times the power—up to 360 kW. However, this is merely an illustration, as the eventual energy capacity of the new sodium-ion battery has not been disclosed.
BAIC has filed around 20 patents for key areas such as materials, electrolytes, and system integration. The completed prototype is described as exceeding ‘China’s current national standards,’ according to the Chinese automaker. Additionally, the ‘Aurora’ battery platform now covers all major technology directions, including lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion batteries.
BAIC’s focus on sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries aligns with a broader industry trend. Sodium is considered cost-effective and widely available. Manufacturers are intensifying research efforts to elevate the relatively low energy density of sodium-ion batteries to—or beyond—the level of LFP batteries. China is once again leading the charge: CATL already markets its Naxtra battery for passenger cars. Recently, Changan presented the Nevo A06, a passenger car that will feature this CATL battery. Additionally, BYD recently reported new advances in its third-generation sodium-ion platform.
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