Beijing, February 8: The electric vehicle (EV) industry has reached a significant milestone. For the first time, a mass-produced passenger EV will utilize a sodium-ion battery, a technology that has been discussed for years but never implemented at this scale. The vehicle in question is the Changan Nevo A06, developed by Changan Automobile and powered by batteries from CATL.
This announcement follows extensive winter testing in Inner Mongolia, where temperatures often plunge well below the limits of most EVs. According to the companies involved, the Nevo A06 charged normally at around -30°C and continued to operate at temperatures as low as -50°C. At -40°C, the battery reportedly maintained over 90% of its original capacity, a performance level that is challenging to achieve with conventional lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
The vehicle employs CATL’s Naxtra sodium-ion battery pack, which is claimed to be the first of its kind certified for passenger car use. The initial version has a capacity of 45 kWh and offers a range of just over 400 km on China’s CLTC test cycle.
On paper, this range is comparable to entry-level LFP-based EVs, but with significantly improved cold-weather performance. CATL asserts that the sodium-ion pack can deliver several times more power than similar LFP batteries in sub-zero conditions, ensuring better acceleration and cabin heating without substantial range loss.
Sodium-ion batteries have gained attention partly because they do not rely on lithium. Sodium is more affordable, abundant, and less susceptible to supply chain issues. Safety is another advantage: CATL claims that the Naxtra cells are much more resistant to thermal runaway and have successfully passed extreme abuse tests without igniting.
CATL describes this as the start of a “dual-chemistry” era for EVs, where sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries will coexist based on climate, cost, and specific use cases. The Nevo A06 is expected to launch in China around mid-2026, with sodium-ion packs likely to expand across Changan’s broader lineup.
Currently, this rollout is focused on China. However, it signals that sodium-ion batteries are moving beyond laboratory experiments. In colder regions, they may soon provide a viable alternative to lithium-based EVs without the usual trade-offs.
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