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 performance in cold weather.
Changan Nevo A06 is jointly produced by Changan Automobile and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), 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 first announced in April 2025.
CATL representatives say the batteries inside the car can complete 248 miles (400 kilometers) on a single charge, with the cells having an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram.
Because Na-ion batteries can be charged faster than lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteriesThe Nevo A06 can also offer consumers an experience closer to filling up the car with gas, with Changan representatives saying the Nevo A06 can be charged to 80% in just 15 minutes.
To put that in perspective, that’s twice as fast as a Tesla Model Y can get to 80% on a 100-kilowatt, per data from the EV charging station Electra.
Expected to launch in mid-2026, the Changan Nevo A06 is just the first of many Na-ion electric cars expected on the market in the immediate future.
For example, BYD, which recently acquired Tesla to become the largest electric car manufacturer in the world, construction began on a 30 gigawatt-hour Na-ion battery plant in Xuzhou, China in early 2024.
Na-ion cars finally hit the market
Na-ion batteries are a new technology that could dramatically reduce the cost of battery production and improve battery safety, researchers say, compared to conventional lithium-ion (Li-ion) alternatives.
Na-ion batteries are made of more available sodium and are more stable in operation. This makes them less likely to catch fire when damaged – an important safety feature for electric cars.
Because Na-ion batteries are also more resistant to temperature extremes—retaining much of their charge in temperatures well below freezing and well above the human habitable zone—they offer better EV performance and efficiency year-round.
In its initial announcement for Naxtra, CATL said the battery could operate at temperatures between -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius) to 158 degrees F (70 degrees C), retaining 90% of its charge as usable electricity even at the lowest temperature.
In its announcement, as reported by CarNewsChinaChangan Automobile stated that the Nevo A06 retains three times more discharge capacity at -30 degrees C than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries – a dominant battery technology in electric vehicles and energy storage – of comparable capacities.
To date, Na-ion batteries have suffered from poorer capacity than Li-ion batteries, making them most useful for static applications, such as in grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).
But with the introduction of vehicles like the Changan Nevo A06, these assumptions are being challenged. When Na-ion batteries are produced on a larger scale, drivers can enjoy electric cars with better battery efficiency and which can operate in harsher climates.
This offers more advantages than just taking the cars further in colder climates. Think of the times you’ve driven your car after it’s been sitting in the cold driveway for a day or more.
For BESS, this also guarantees that grid storage does not suffer from massive reductions in efficiency during the winter months.
