CATL plans to launch a range of mass-produced sodium-ion battery products this year as the company expands commercialization of alternative battery chemistries aimed at reducing reliance on lithium-based materials.
The announcement was made by Wu Kai, Chief Scientist at CATL and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, during the 2026 Equipment Powerhouse Forum on May 30, according to reports from Sina.
Sodium-Ion Production Moves Forward
Wu said the company has resolved key manufacturing challenges associated with sodium-ion battery production, paving the way for broader commercial deployment.
Sodium-ion batteries have attracted industry interest because they utilize more abundant raw materials than conventional lithium-ion batteries, potentially reducing production costs and easing supply chain pressures.
According to CATL’s product roadmap, the company plans to deploy sodium-ion battery systems across multiple applications, including passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, battery-swapping networks and stationary energy storage projects.
Expanding Commercial Applications
The company has been increasing investment in sodium-ion technology as part of a broader strategy to diversify battery chemistry options.
Industry reports indicate that CATL recently secured a 60-GWh sodium-ion battery supply agreement, described as one of the largest announced orders for the technology to date.
CATL’s sodium-ion batteries are initially expected to be used in entry-level electric vehicles and energy storage systems, where cost competitiveness and material availability are particularly important.
Targeting Higher Energy Density
While early sodium-ion batteries have generally offered lower energy density than lithium-based alternatives, CATL said it is continuing development of higher-performance versions.
Future generations of the technology are expected to target driving ranges of up to 600 kilometers on a single charge.
If achieved, such performance would allow sodium-ion batteries to compete more directly with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems used in many mass-market electric vehicles.
Long-Term Focus on Lithium-Air Technology
Alongside sodium-ion battery development, CATL is continuing research into next-generation battery technologies, including lithium-air systems.
Lithium-air batteries use metallic lithium as the anode while utilizing oxygen from the surrounding environment as a reactant during discharge.
Researchers have long viewed the technology as a potential pathway to significantly higher theoretical energy density compared with existing lithium-ion batteries.
According to CATL, lithium-air systems remain part of its longer-term research and development roadmap as the company explores future battery architectures beyond current commercial technologies.
Diversified Battery Strategy
The latest comments highlight CATL’s efforts to pursue multiple battery technologies simultaneously as the electric vehicle and energy storage markets continue to evolve.
While lithium-ion batteries remain the dominant chemistry for electric vehicles today, manufacturers are increasingly exploring alternatives that could reduce costs, improve resource availability and support future performance requirements.
CATL’s expansion of sodium-ion battery production represents one of the most significant commercialization efforts for the technology to date, as the company seeks to broaden its battery portfolio across transportation and energy storage applications.
