"The battery, called Naxtra, can perform stably at 50 degrees Celsius (58 degrees Fahrenheit), CATL says—a feature that could address one of EVs' biggest drawbacks: the diminished range and slower charging brought about by deep cold. For anyone who's watched their car's range drop on a frigid morning, this claim is hard to ignore."
"The majority of EVs in the world right now are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are more powerful than sodium-ion batteries but perform differently in cold weather than they do in warm conditions. In low temperatures, many lithium-ion EVs deliver less power and charge more slowly."
Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world's largest EV battery maker, and Changan Automobile plan to launch vehicles with sodium-ion batteries in China by mid-2026. The Naxtra battery performs stably at -50 degrees Celsius, addressing a major EV limitation: reduced range and slower charging in cold weather. Lithium-ion batteries, currently dominant in EVs, lose power and charge slowly in low temperatures because cold reduces the movement of charged particles between electrodes. Sodium-ion technology could benefit cold regions globally, including parts of the United States, Canada, and Europe. While these vehicles may not reach the U.S. market immediately, CATL's announcement signals whether sodium-ion technology can lower battery costs and improve EV performance in winter conditions.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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