Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has unveiled a special sodium-ion battery for use in light commercial vehicles. The new variant is part of the “Tianxing II” product series and has been designed specifically for use in extremely cold conditions. According to the company, it is the first mass-produced sodium-ion battery of its kind in the commercial vehicle sector.
More than 10,000 charging cycles
The 45-kilowatt-hour battery pack is designed for small vans and micro trucks and is said to retain 90 percent of its usable capacity even at minus 40 degree Celsius. CATL claims that charging is possible down to minus 30 degree Celsius. Additionally, this battery is the first to meet the new Chinese “GB 38031-2025” standard. With a specified energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram and a service life of more than 10,000 charging cycles, the manufacturer deems the technology economical and sustainable.
Further variants based on Lithium-ion tech
In addition to the sodium-ion version for cold conditions, the product family includes other battery types based on lithium-ion chemistry, such as a fast-charging variant, a high-temperature version, and a long-range model with a capacity of up to 253 kilowatt-hours. These variants are designed to address various application scenarios, including long-distance logistics, urban short-distance delivery, and high-temperature regions. CATL also presented replaceable battery modules with capacities between 42 and 81 kilowatt-hours.
Source:
https://cnevpost.com/2026/01/22/catl-launches-sodium-battery-for-light-commercial-vehicles/
