JAC in partnership with VW in China has unveiled the world’s first electric vehicle (EV) powered by a sodium-ion battery.
“This milestone could be a game-changer for the electric vehicle industry, as sodium-ion batteries offer a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries,” said the Chinese manufacturer.
“Lithium prices surged last year, creating huge cost pressures in producing lithium-ion batteries. However, sodium-ion batteries offer better cost performance and deliver excellent cycle performance, making them a good alternative to lithium-ion batteries.”
Along with cars, the new technology aims to be expanded to other EV platforms including buses, trucks, and scooters.
Flowery Fairy
The new JAC is called the Hua Xianzi which translates to “Flowery Fairy” according to the company, and it strikes a remarkable resemblance to one of VW’s ID. electric hatchbacks.
The five-seater city car features a 25kWh Na-ion battery built by HiNa Battery Technologies, and the module affords up to 250km of range on a single charge.
On the downside, sodium-ion batteries have a lower energy density than more traditional lithium-ion cells and therefore must be larger to achieve the same driving distances.
However, the advantages are numerous, said JAC, and include better low-temperature performance, charging speed, a longer lifespan, and more recharging cycles without degradation.
Additionally, cheaper raw materials are used in the manufacturing process of sodium-ion batteries, and they are less prone to overheating and other safety issues thus making them a safer option for large-scale energy storage.
“The scarcity and cost of lithium have been a challenge in the battery industry, with companies worldwide spending years looking for suitable alternatives,” said HiNa Battery Technology.
“This breakthrough could help reduce EV production costs by ten percent.”
JAC is on a new-energy push
JAC is on the electric offensive as the manufacturer is pushing a variety of new-energy powertrains in different body styles to market.
In the next few months, the company is planning to introduce its T9 Hunter double cab to South Africa which at first will be available as a turbo-diesel only, but towards the end of the year will become the first plug-in hybrid bakkie in the country.
There have also been reports from down under that the T9 is being tested as a fully-electric model with an estimated launch window of late 2024, however, this has yet to be confirmed by the automaker itself.
With sodium-ion batteries now on the table, a large 4×4 may present the perfect platform to showcase the newfound technologies.
“The future of electric vehicles looks promising with the introduction of more affordable and sustainable battery technology,” said Karl-Heinz Göbel, chief executive officer of JAC Motors South Africa.
“With the development of new battery technology, EV pricing will become more competitive, giving more car buyers access to new-energy vehicles.”
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