VW partner begins sodium-ion EV production

VOLKSWAGEN appears to be casting a wide net when it comes to ensuring it possesses the very latest in EV battery technology. This week, Volkswagen Group partner Anhui Jianhguai Automobile’s (JAC’s) Yiwei brand rolled out its first mass-produced vehicle with sodium-ion battery technology.

The unnamed light hatch features sodium-ion cylindrical cells supplied by Beijing-based Hina Battery which are arranged in a honeycomb-like ‘Unitised Encapsulation’ structure intended to reduce the potential of combustion.

Deliveries of the new model – which is said to rival the GWM Ora on size and price – are slated to begin this month.

According to Car News China the Yiwei model features a 25kWh battery pack capable of delivering up to 252km of range. Charging time for the 10-80 per cent standard is listed at 20 minutes with each cell possessing an energy density of 140Wh/kg.

The front-wheel drive hatch features a 70kW single electric motor.

“Sodium batteries will become an important battery type, complementary to LFP (lithium iron phosphate batteries) batteries, and a low-cost solution that promotes the popularisation of electric vehicles to the masses,” said Yiwei Technology chairman, Xia Shunli.

“We judge that the application of sodium-ion batteries in the new energy vehicle (NEV) market will start with A00-class EVs, which is why we chose this model for installation trials.”

Yiwei is a new EV brand under JAC established just last year. JAC’s parent company, Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Holdings (JAG) is 50 per cent state-owned and 50 cent owned by the Volkswagen Group.

Sodium-ion batteries are expected to play an important role in the overall mix of battery types found in two-wheeled vehicles and entry-level EVs in the future. They are cheaper to manufacture, less environmentally taxing and perform well in cold conditions but are less energy dense than comparable LFP units.

The technology is also understood to cost a quarter of that of lithium-based batteries while being able to withstand up to three times the amount of heat exposure.

In China, several manufacturers are pushing ahead with the development of sodium-ion batteries.

BYD recently announced a 30GWh sodium battery plant in Xuzhou as part of a joint venture with Huaihai Group. CATL has also announced plans to manufacture sodium-ion batteries, the technology likely to appear in Chery models in the very near future.

The news comes just months after another Volkswagen-backed group, Northvolt, announced its plans for sodium-ion battery production for use in EV models for developing countries.

The technology is also being investigated for use in other areas, such as emissions-free aviation. United Airlines invested in sodium-ion battery manufacturer Natron Energy in December of 2022, aiming to use the technology in its ground support vehicles.

With Car News China