First sodium-ion battery car in general production holds the potential to revolutionize EVs forever
A Chinese automaker has unveiled the world’s first sodium-ion (Na-ion) electric vehicle (EV), opening the door to safer battery technologies and improved cold weather performance.
The Changan Nevo A06 was jointly produced by Changan Automobile and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), the the world’s largest battery manufacturer.
The Nevo A06 is powered by a 45-kilowatt-hour CATL Naxtra battery – the battery giant’s Na-ion product. announced for the first time in April 2025.
CATL representatives say the batteries inside the car can travel 400 kilometers on a single charge, with the cells having an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram.
Because Na-ion batteries can charge faster than lithium ion batteries (Li-ion)The Nevo A06 can also provide consumers with an experience closer to that of refueling their vehicle, with Changan representatives claiming that the Nevo A06 can charge up to 80% in just 15 minutes.
To put that in perspective, that’s twice as fast as a Tesla Model Y can reach 80% on 100 kilowatts, according to data from the electric vehicle charging site. Electra.
The Changan Nevo A06 is expected to launch in mid-2026 and is just the first of many Na-ion electric vehicles expected to hit the market in the immediate future.
For example, BYD, which recently overtook Tesla to become the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, started construction on a 30 gigawatt-hour Na-ion battery installation in Xuzhou, China, in early 2024.
Na-ion cars finally hit the market
Na-ion batteries are an emerging technology that could significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing batteries and improve their safety, scientists say, compared to conventional lithium-ion (Li-ion) alternatives.
Na-ion batteries are made from more widely available sodium and are more stable in operation. This makes them less likely to catch fire when damaged – a key safety feature for electric vehicles.
Because Na-ion batteries are also more resistant to temperature extremes – retaining much of their charge at temperatures well below freezing and well above the habitable range for humans – they provide better electric vehicle performance and efficiency year-round.
In its initial announcement for the Naxtra, CATL said the battery could operate in temperatures between -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius) and 158 degrees F (70 degrees C)), retaining 90 percent of its charge as usable electricity, even at the lowest temperature.
In his announcement, as reported CarNewsChinaChangan Automobile said the Nevo A06 maintains three times the discharge capacity at -22 degrees F (-30 degrees C) than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries – a dominant battery technology in electric vehicles and energy storage – at comparable capacities.
To date, Na-ion batteries have suffered from lower capacity than Li-ion batteries, making them more useful for static use, such as in grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).
However, with the introduction of vehicles such as the Changan Nevo A06, these assumptions are being challenged. Once Na-ion batteries are produced on a larger scale, drivers will be able to enjoy electric vehicles with better battery efficiency and capable of operating in harsher climates.
This provides more benefits than simply bringing cars further into colder climates. Think about the times you’ve driven your car after it’s been sitting in a cold driveway for a day or more.
For BESS, this also ensures that grid storage will not suffer massive drops in efficiency during the winter months.
