Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the global battery manufacturing leader, today announced the commercial launch of its first mass-produced sodium-ion battery for light commercial vehicles. Unveiled as part of the new Tectrans II series, this move signals a strategic push to bring sodium-based battery technology into widespread automotive use.
The centerpiece of the launch is the low-temperature variant, a 45 kWh sodium-ion battery pack engineered explicitly for small vans and micro-trucks. Certified under the stringent new GB 38031-2025 national standard, the battery boasts an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and a cycle life exceeding 10,000 charges. Its most distinguishing feature is exceptional cold-weather resilience, maintaining 90% of usable capacity at -40°C and allowing immediate charging even when frozen at -30°C. This directly addresses a critical operational hurdle for electric commercial fleets in cold climates.
CATL emphasized that sodium’s natural abundance—over 1,000 times more common than lithium—and far lower extraction costs promise enhanced long-term economic feasibility for electrified light commercial transport, potentially reducing overall battery expenses.
The Tectrans II series extends beyond sodium, featuring three specialized lithium-ion variants for diverse commercial needs. These include an ultra-fast-charging version capable of reaching an 80% charge in 30 minutes at -15°C; a high-temperature, fast-charging model designed for reliability in southern climates; and a long-range version achieving a landmark 800 km range from a single 253 kWh pack. The series also integrates swappable battery blocks, including a new 81 kWh unit, enhancing operational flexibility.
This launch follows CATL’s recent strategic statements forecasting large-scale sodium-ion adoption across multiple sectors in 2026, positioning it alongside lithium-ion technology in a complementary “dual-star” market dynamic. The introduction of a cost-effective, cold-resilient sodium battery marks a pivotal step in diversifying battery chemistry for the commercial vehicle industry, aiming to accelerate electrification across varied operational and environmental conditions.
