Sunwoda’s sodium-ion battery scheduled for volume production in Q3 2024

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Sunwoda, a Chinese leading player in the field of electric vehicle batteries, will put its sodium-ion batteries into mass production in the third quarter of 2024, according to Mr. Wang Mingwang, the founder of Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., during the 2023 World Power Battery Conference on June 9.

According to Mr. Wang, the sodium-ion battery is a new product developed by Sunwoda and boasts several outstanding advantages, including ultra-low-temperature discharge capability, high safety levels, high-rate discharge, and high energy density. It maintains over 80% capacity at a discharge rate of 1C at temperatures as low as -40°C, and it is puncture-resistant and non-flammable, with over 90% capacity retention at a discharge rate of 10C. The energy density reaches 160Wh/kg, meeting the requirements of A00-to-A-segment BEV and PHEV markets.

Mr. Wang Mingwang; photo credit: 2023 World Power Battery Conference

Since entering the electric vehicle battery business in 2008, Sunwoda has been offering comprehensive product solutions, ranging from battery cells, battery modules, and battery packs to power management systems. The company has also extended its reach to key upstream components such as mineral raw materials and cathode/anode materials. Downstream, Sunwoda's involvement spans electric vehicles, energy storage stations, and the secondary utilization of power batteries, forming an integrated industry chain blueprint.

Earlier this year, to address the concerns of electric vehicle users regarding energy supplementation and range anxiety, Sunwoda launched the world's first commercially available "Flash Charge Battery." This battery features ultra-fast charging, enhanced safety, and exceptional durability, enabling electric vehicles to easily achieve a range of 1,000 kilometers and charging from 20% to 80% State of Charge in just 10 minutes.

"The production of the Flash Charge Battery 1.0 version began in February this year, and the 2.0 version has already entered in-depth cooperation with several leading domestic automakers. With technological upgrades, we can achieve a 90% energy retention rate in environments as cold as -20°C while achieving ultra-fast charging," stated Mr. Wang during the conference.

The next-generation platform solution, the large cylindrical battery, has seen a 15% improvement in volume utilization and an energy density exceeding 300Wh/kg through optimized design, Mr. Wang added. Furthermore, Sunwoda has achieved rapid iteration of battery system integration technology to reduce costs and improve performance. The CTP 2.0 technology has been officially put into production this year, with large-scale deliveries already underway.

Next, Sunwoda plans to introduce its third-generation CTP technology, which enables weak point separation. Extensive collaboration has already taken place with multiple testing facilities.

As Mr. Wang emphasized, safety is the foundation of industry development, whether it is in automobiles or energy storage. With this in mind, Sunwoda continues to invest heavily in the research and development of cutting-edge technologies, focusing on industry pain points and value innovation to break through performance limits and achieve utmost safety. The company is actively developing new materials and processes.

"The metal lithium battery with an energy density higher than 500Wh/kg is scheduled to complete the B-sample in 2025, and the pure-solid-state battery is planned to complete the B-sample in 2027," stated Mr. Wang.

To clarify, the B-sample refers to a product that has fixed all-dimensional product functions and parameters, aligning with the final mass-produced product. It meets the long-term performance validation requirements but has not reached the C-sample stage, which indicates the ability for large-scale production.