China’s new sodium battery promises an end to the era of burning electric cars
Chinese industrial heavyweights Changan and CATL decided that the industry’s dependence on lithium, along with its well publicised fire risks, had become a problem best left behind. At a joint presentation, they unveiled a new sodium ion battery that does not chase record breaking energy density but offers something far more practical. It simply does not catch fire. In an industry still struggling with expensive materials and fragile supply chains, this is a deliberate bet on safety and accessibility.
The key advantage of the new battery lies in its resistance to thermal runaway. Where a conventional lithium battery can turn into an uncontrollable firework after physical damage or a short circuit, the sodium ion unit remains calm even under extreme abuse. The manufacturers demonstrated this with tests that involved puncturing and deforming the battery. The expected flames never appeared. For buyers who still feel uneasy about charging an electric car in their driveway, this is a powerful reassurance.
Of course, sodium is not ready to conquer the world without compromise. Compared with state of the art lithium batteries, energy density is noticeably lower, which translates into more modest driving ranges on a single charge. Changan and CATL are realistic about this and have positioned the technology for lower cost urban models and efficiency focused vehicles. It is a pragmatic approach. Instead of chasing thousand kilometre ranges that few people genuinely need, they offer a cheaper and safer solution for everyday transport.
Sodium carries another, less obvious advantage that makes it especially appealing for Chinese manufacturers. Unlike lithium, whose price on global markets fluctuates wildly, sodium is abundant, inexpensive, and found almost everywhere. In simple terms, it is salt. This reduces reliance on complex mining operations in distant regions and gives manufacturers greater control over final vehicle pricing. While much of the world competes for lithium resources, China appears to have found a way to build energy storage from something available in near limitless supply.
Does this spell the end of lithium batteries? Probably not, at least not in luxury cars and long distance vehicles. Yet the joint project from Changan and CATL shows that the future of electric mobility does not have to be exclusive or flammable. It can also be affordable, robust, and refreshingly uneventful.
