Announcements from this company are undoubtedly worthy of attention. At CATL's Supplier Conference, the company stated that sodium-ion batteries will be massively deployed in the battery swapping sector, as well as in passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and energy storage systems in 2026, which is expected to create a new industry trend featuring "sodium-lithium dual-core dominance". Furthermore, its self-developed sodium-ion battery has obtained certification under Safety Requirements for Traction Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles (GB 38031-2025), making it the world's first sodium-ion traction battery product to pass the new national standard.

 

Key performance metrics from relevant data are as follows:

Theoretically, if these standards are fully achieved in automotive applications, lithium-ion batteries will face intense challenges in the mainstream automotive market. Currently, mainstream and mid-range vehicles primarily use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which boast low manufacturing costs but suffer from poor low-temperature performance consistency. Their low-temperature performance lags behind that of nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) ternary lithium batteries adopted by high-end vehicles. However, LFP batteries strike a balance with moderate energy density and a higher thermal runaway threshold, making them a preferred choice for automakers and still widely used in mainstream vehicle models.

 

In contrast, sodium-ion batteries demonstrate even superior low-temperature performance compared to ternary lithium batteries, as indicated by the above data. Additionally, sodium-ion batteries offer a cost advantage over LFP batteries. If mass-produced sodium-ion batteries can meet the aforementioned performance standards, it is highly likely that mainstream vehicle manufacturers will shift to sodium-ion battery solutions in the future.

 

That said, ternary lithium batteries, semi-solid-state batteries, and all-solid-state batteries still hold significant market potential, largely due to the energy density gap between battery chemistries.

 

Therefore, the future market landscape may evolve into three distinct segments:

Meanwhile, R&D efforts for semi-solid-state and all-solid-state batteries must continue, with a focus on accelerating the commercialization and large-scale deployment of first-generation products.

Both battery types are characterized by extended cycle life, ultra-fast charging capability, higher energy density, and most importantly, significantly enhanced safety performance compared to liquid-electrolyte-based power batteries. Due to the inherent material property of ternary lithium batteries—their lower thermal runaway threshold relative to LFP batteries—some automotive enthusiasts remain skeptical of ternary lithium battery-powered vehicles. Objectively speaking, ternary lithium battery packs can achieve equivalent safety standards through advanced battery management systems and structural design optimizations. However, most automotive enthusiasts lack in-depth knowledge of battery materials and technologies, leading to persistent concerns.

 

This underscores the urgency of accelerating the application of semi-solid-state and all-solid-state batteries. Notably, the cathode materials for both battery types still rely on composite ternary materials, placing them within the broader category of ternary lithium battery technology.

 

2026 is poised to be the inaugural year of transformative change in the power battery industry. The most stringent power battery safety standards will take effect in the second half of the year, mandating that batteries pass rigorous tests to ensure zero fire and explosion risks, marking a substantial leap in safety performance compared to current standards. Prior to this, the new national standard for electric vehicle energy consumption limits will already be in force, requiring power battery manufacturers to strike a delicate balance between safety and energy density. Moreover, the outdated approach of boosting vehicle range marginally by increasing battery pack capacity—at the expense of energy density and vehicle curb weight—will no longer be viable.

 

As a result, 2026 will witness fierce technological competition among power battery suppliers:

Overall, electric vehicles are set to see improvements in driving range, safety performance, and curb weight optimization. The trend toward larger electric vehicle models is likely to reverse, with sodium-ion batteries potentially spawning a new wave of "compact yet high-performance" battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).