Electric cars no longer fear winter: Changan and CATL unveil a −50 °C sodium-ion battery

5 February 2026, 12:31

By A. Krivonosov

Changan, working alongside battery heavyweight CATL, has taken a notable step towards making electric cars more practical in very cold regions. In the city of Yakeshi in Inner Mongolia, the companies showcased CATL Naxtra - described as the first sodium-ion battery from CATL designed to operate reliably at temperatures down to −50 °C. The aim is to tackle one of the biggest drawbacks of EVs in winter: a sharp drop in driving range, as reported by "Izvestia".

What Changan and CATL revealed in Yakeshi

The presentation focused on cold-weather usability. Conventional lithium-ion packs can lose a substantial share of their usable capacity as soon as temperatures fall to around −20 °C, which directly affects real-world range.

CATL Naxtra: cold-weather performance down to −50 °C

According to the developers, the sodium-ion Naxtra battery is far more resilient in low temperatures. They state that at −30 °C it discharges three times less, at −40 °C it retains roughly 90% of its capacity, and it continues to deliver energy even at −50 °C.

This improved cold tolerance could also reduce the need for complex thermal management systems, cutting energy consumption and simplifying vehicle design.

Safety advantages of the sodium-ion pack

The new approach is also positioned as safer. The sodium-ion battery is said to withstand mechanical damage: it does not catch fire and does not explode if drilled, sawn or crushed. That makes it especially appealing for large-scale use, including in harsher operating conditions.

Energy density, range, and planned targets

The technology is not without trade-offs. CATL Naxtra’s energy density is listed as 175 Wh/kg, which is below typical lithium-ion figures. Even so, a 45 kWh battery is claimed to provide a driving range of more than 400 km.

Looking ahead, the developers expect to raise this to 500–600 km for electric cars and to 300–400 km for hybrid models. Changan’s first vehicle to use a sodium-ion battery will be the Nevo Q05.

Roll-out plans and how lithium-ion fits in

The company notes that the technology will initially be tested within China’s domestic market. For now, there are no plans to fit it to models from the Deepal line that are being prepared for launch in Russia.

CATL is also not abandoning lithium-ion batteries - the two technologies are expected to develop in parallel. A battery that can function at −50 °C could become a major turning point for electric cars in countries with cold climates.

If the claims are confirmed in real-world use and the economics make sense, EVs would stop being seen as "seasonal" transport and could compete on equal terms with ICE vehicles even in northern regions.

Earlier, 32CARS.RU reported that electric-car owners are more satisfied with their vehicles’ technology than other motorists.