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Newsletter N°85 - January 2026
🔋Battery: Beyond Lithium: CATL and LGES Pivot to Sodium-Ion Production
CATL is fast-tracking the sodium-ion era, with plans to integrate these batteries into passenger vehicles as early as the second quarter of 2026. The debut model, produced by GAC Aion, marks a significant leap from industrial applications to the mainstream automotive market. This rollout is supported by CATL’s Naxtra brand, which has achieved an energy density of 175 Wh/kg, effectively rivaling traditional lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Beyond passenger cars, the company is scaling this technology for commercial use through its Tectrans II series, featuring 45-kWh packs that maintain 90% capacity even at extreme temperatures of -40°C. By overcoming traditional thermal and energy density hurdles—evidenced by a 5C charging rate that keeps temperature rises under 5°C—CATL aims to make sodium-ion a staple for everything from energy storage to construction machinery within the next three years.
Simultaneously, South Korea’s LG Energy Solution is cementing its presence in the sodium-ion sector by establishing a pilot production line at its Nanjing facility in China. This strategic move leverages China’s robust supply chain for cathode materials to validate mass-production feasibility in a region that already leads the market. The development process follows a rigorous path from R&D and initial prototypes in South Korea to the production of mass-ready "Sample C" units at the Nanjing plant. As the world’s third-largest battery maker with a 9.3% market share, LGES is navigating the volatile lithium market by diversifying its portfolio alongside local Chinese rivals like Hina Battery and Zoolnasm. While the company remains cautious about finalizing a full-scale deployment timeline, the completion of this pilot line within the year signals an aggressive push to commercialize next-generation batteries that could finally break the industry's lithium dependency.
