Ningde Times Unveils World-First 800km Range Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery and Sodium-Ion Battery

Global First! CATL Makes Major Announcement!
Date: April 21, 2025
In a remarkable turn of events, CATL unveiled multiple “global firsts” within a single day. On the afternoon of April 21, during a Super Technology Day themed “Awakening of Boundaries,” CATL introduced the second-generation “Shenxing” ultra-fast charging battery, which is the world’s first lithium iron phosphate battery capable of achieving an impressive range of 800 km and a peak discharge rate of 12C. Additionally, CATL launched the “Sodium New” battery, recognized as the world’s first sodium-ion battery designed for automotive-grade large-scale production.
Compared to lithium batteries, sodium batteries offer several advantages, including abundant resources, lower costs, enhanced safety, and adaptability to extreme temperatures. With the mass production of CATL’s sodium batteries, the commercialization process for the sodium battery industry is likely to accelerate.
“Ultra-Fast Charging” and “Safety” as Key Themes
During this Super Technology Day, “ultra-fast charging” and “safety” emerged as focal points for CATL’s new products. The second-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery, announced by CATL’s CTO for domestic passenger and commercial vehicles, Gao Huan, can be charged for just 5 minutes to achieve a range of over 520 km. This battery incorporates 12C ultra-fast charging technology, surpassing 1.3 megawatts in peak charging power, with a maximum range of 800 km and a replenishment speed of 2.5 km per second.
Its performance in low temperatures is impressive; in sub-zero conditions of -10°C, it can charge from 5% to 80% in just 15 minutes, a 100% improvement over the current industry standard. Even when low on charge, the second-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery still provides an output power of 830 kW, compatible with megawatt-level charging stations.
Regarding materials, the second-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery utilizes a new generation of super crystalline graphite, significantly enhancing lithium-ion insertion speeds. CATL has also developed a dedicated “smart electrolyte production line,” employing nano-level liquid-phase high-speed transmission technology to construct an efficient SEI film that boosts ultra-fast charging capabilities.
Concerning safety, CATL officially introduced the “Xiaoyao Dual-Core Battery,” which features a “dual-core architecture” and “self-generating negative electrode technology.” Specific products include the Xiaoyao “Sodium-Iron” dual-core battery, the Xiaoyao “Iron-Iron” dual-core battery, and the Xiaoyao “Ternary Iron/Dual Ternary” dual-core battery. Gao Huan noted that the “dual-core architecture” is akin to the “twin-engine design” of passenger aircraft, allowing a battery pack to have two independent energy zones, ensuring continuity, stability, and safety of power output. Even in cases of battery damage or thermal runaway, the design allows for isolation, ensuring battery integrity without interference.
As the safety of smart driving gains widespread attention, battery safety has become a critical focus in the realm of smart vehicles. Gao Huan expressed that the “Xiaoyao Dual-Core Battery” is the result of CATL’s efforts to develop power batteries that align better with the era of intelligent driving.
Accelerating the Industrialization of Sodium Batteries
During the Super Technology Day, CATL also revealed the “Sodium New” sodium-ion battery. Gao Huan stated that CATL’s sodium-ion battery can withstand extreme abuse tests, such as multi-directional squeezing, needle penetration, drilling, and battery sawing, without catching fire or exploding. The “Sodium New” battery maintains 90% energy retention in environments as cold as -40°C, achieving an energy density of 175 Wh/kg. It boasts over 500 km of pure electric range and more than 200 km of hybrid range, with a cycle life exceeding 10,000 cycles and supporting peak fast charging at 5C. It remains safe under extreme abuse scenarios, such as drilling through or sawing the battery cell.
In terms of launch timelines, the first product from the “Sodium New” line, a 24V heavy-duty truck start-stop battery, is set for mass production in June this year, in collaboration with FAW Jiefang. Meanwhile, the sodium-ion power battery is expected to begin mass production in December 2025, with its first application in a chocolate battery swap vehicle. Previously, CATL indicated in an earnings conference that it is developing a second-generation sodium battery with performance metrics nearing those of lithium iron phosphate batteries. If mass adoption occurs, sodium batteries could offer a cost advantage over lithium iron phosphate batteries.
CATL’s first-generation sodium-ion battery, launched in July 2021, achieved a single-cell energy density of 160 Wh/kg, capable of charging to over 80% in just 15 minutes and maintaining over 90% discharge retention at -20°C. In 2023, CATL announced that sodium-ion batteries would debut in Chery vehicles, collaborating with Chery to launch the battery brand “ENER-Q,” covering multiple battery technologies including sodium-ion and lithium iron phosphate batteries.
According to Qi Haishen, President of Beijing Teiyang Sunshine New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., sodium batteries serve as a “supplement” to lithium batteries. They can be widely used in areas with lower energy density requirements, such as communication bases, low-speed electric vehicles, electric bicycles, energy storage, and solar streetlights. This technological pathway is seen as a valuable complement to lithium battery technologies. According to data from the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute, the global market size for sodium batteries reached $320 million in 2023 and is projected to approach $1 billion by 2030.
Research from Tianfeng Securities suggests that as the development of a “new power system centered on renewable energy” progresses, the share of large-scale power plants in the 100 megawatt category has increased from 23% in 2020 to 58% in the first half of 2024. The demand for energy storage, particularly for large capacity, differentiated, and long-duration storage, urgently requires high-quality and comprehensive products and solutions. This trillion-dollar market is seen as a promising avenue for the large-scale development of sodium batteries, with energy storage potentially becoming the primary application scenario for sodium-ion batteries.