CATL launches commercial sodium‑ion battery storage systems

Chinese battery maker CATL announced that the first stationary energy‑storage systems using sodium‑ion batteries will be delivered to customers starting in September. The company also unveiled a new "One Shell, Two Cells" architecture that lets the same external pack house either lithium‑ion or sodium‑ion cells, allowing manufacturers to switch chemistries without changing dimensions or production lines.

CATL says its sodium‑ion cells have reached about 15,000 charge‑discharge cycles, giving them a service life of more than 20 years. The firm expects the cost of its sodium‑ion cells to match that of lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) batteries by the end of 2026 and to become up to 30% cheaper thereafter, potentially capturing 30‑40% of the market. The technology promises lower raw‑material price risk, better performance at temperatures down to –40 °C, and suitability for low‑cost electric vehicles and commercial vehicles.