CATL advances sodium-ion batteries from laboratory to commercialization: launches a new generation of sodium batteries and overcomes four major mass production challenges including water control, hard carbon gas, aluminum foil bonding, and self-generated anodes; signs a 3-year 60GWh energy storage order with Haibosi Chuang to verify large-scale delivery and expanded application scenarios; simultaneously initiates a 40GWh dedicated production line, managed by Fuding Times, with plans to start construction in 2026 and ramp up production in 2028-2029, demonstrating that sodium-ion has become an independent mainline technology route.

SnapshotLaborer

2026-05-17 03:26:15

Abstract generation in progress

Sodium-ion batteries are undergoing a qualitative transformation from a “lithium backup” to a “strategic main force.” CATL’s recent series of moves in the sodium battery track signals that the industrialization of sodium-ion has passed the “from 0 to 1” inflection point. The surge in AIDC energy-storage demand, combined with the historical window created by lithium prices returning to 200,000 yuan/ton, has led to a systematic reappraisal of the value of sodium-ion batteries in terms of safety, cost, and strategic self-reliance.

1. What happened? — CATL’s “Three Movements in Sodium Batteries”

From April to May 2026, the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries reached a historic inflection point. In just one month, CATL completed a “three-level jump” covering technology release, super orders, and capacity expansion, sending a clear message to the market: sodium-ion batteries have moved from “lab stories” to “commercial deployment.”

1. First Movement: Technological Breakthrough — Overcoming Four Major Hurdles for Mass Production

On April 21, 2026, CATL released a new generation “Na-new” battery at TechDay, announcing that it had broken through the “four great mountains” of mass production of sodium-ion batteries:

① Extreme control of water: Sodium ions are extremely sensitive to moisture. Water reacts with sodium salts to produce corrosive substances, severely affecting battery lifespan and safety. CATL, through original pore-size regulation and surface molecular water-locking technology, controls the moisture level in the production environment to an extremely low level, overcoming the first major hurdle in sodium-ion battery manufacturing.

② Gas generation in hard carbon: During the initial charge/discharge stage, hard-carbon anodes produce large amounts of gas, causing battery swelling or even failure. CATL effectively suppresses the hard-carbon gas generation problem through its original pore-size regulation technology.

③ Aluminum foil bonding: In sodium-ion batteries, both the positive and negative electrodes use aluminum foil as the current collector, but insufficient bonding strength between the aluminum foil and the active materials can affect the structural stability of the electrodes. CATL has developed a dual-polarity functional coating to solve the difficulty of aluminum-foil coating and bonding.

④ Scalable self-generated anode: This is the core technology of anode-free sodium-ion batteries. During charging, sodium ions are directly deposited onto the current collector to form a metallic sodium anode, eliminating the need for traditional anode materials. This can increase volumetric energy density by more than 60%. CATL has already achieved mass-production readiness at scale for this technology.

2. Second Movement: Super Orders — 60 GWh Locks in the Energy Storage Market

On April 27, 2026, CATL signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Haimosi Chuang for sodium-ion energy-storage batteries, reaching a 3-year 60 GWh sodium-ion battery order. This is the largest sodium-ion battery order globally to date. Its significance goes far beyond the commercial level:

Validating industrialization capability: CATL’s official statement clearly indicates that it has overcome the full-chain challenges of sodium battery mass production and has the capability to deliver at scale.

Opening application scenarios: The order clearly targets the energy storage sector, not electric vehicles. As a leading energy-storage system integrator in China, Haimosi Chuang will mainly use the purchased sodium-ion batteries for grid-side energy storage, industrial and commercial energy storage, and AIDC energy storage.

Creating incremental market demand: Morgan Stanley estimates that sodium-ion batteries could open up a reachable market space of about 1000 GWh. Compared with the 2025 industry sales scale of 662 GWh, the room for growth is enormous.

3. Third Movement: Capacity Expansion — Launch of the 40 GWh Dedicated Line

On May 7, 2026, the environmental impact assessment report for a project published by CATL’s wholly owned subsidiary “Fuding Times” showed a total investment of 5 billion yuan, adding 40 GWh of sodium-ion power battery capacity. This marks CATL’s first publicly disclosed construction of a dedicated sodium-ion large-scale base:

Clear technical route: using a “layered oxide + hard carbon” system, with a specific capacity ≥180 mAh/g; after 2000 cycles, the capacity retention rate is ≥80%.

Construction cycle of 24 months: expected to start construction in 2026H2, achieve large-scale ramp-up in 2028H2, and reach full production in 2029.

Strategic significance: this is not a “flexible switch” of compatible lines, but a dedicated sodium-ion plant—dedicated facilities for electrode-sheet production, module lines, and equipment procurement—indicating that CATL has already positioned sodium-ion as an independent mainstream technical route.

……

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.