JAC Group delivers first EVs with sodium-ion battery

06 January 2024

JAC Group is changing the EV game with the delivery of China's first mass-produced electric vehicle powered by a sodium-ion battery. The vehicle, part of the Yiwei brand, is equipped with cutting-edge sodium-ion cylindrical cells supplied by HiNa Battery Technology. This innovation is hoped to challenge the conventional dominance of lithium-ion batteries in the EV industry.

The key to sodium-ion batteries lies in their unique properties. Abundant raw material reserves, exceptional low-temperature performance, enhanced conductivity, rapid charging capabilities, and the potential for higher energy density set sodium-ion batteries apart. Safety during transportation is also improved, which is a critical factor for the EV industry's growth.

On January 5, 2024, Yiwei, a new energy vehicle brand under JAC Group, made history by delivering the world's first mass-produced vehicle equipped with sodium-ion batteries to eager customers.

The vehicle in question is the sub-$10,000 sodium-ion version of the Huaxianzi (translated as "Flower Fairy") model, powered by HiNA Battery's 32140 sodium-ion cylindrical cells. These cells boast a capacity of 12Ah and an energy density exceeding 140Wh/kg, following the technological path of copper-based layered oxide plus hard carbon.

Safety is a top priority, and the Huaxianzi incorporates a honeycomb battery safety structure. With a total battery pack capacity of 23.2kWh, it achieves a CLTC-rated range of 143 miles, with energy consumption approaching 10 kWh per 100km. Sodium-ion batteries shine in low-temperature environments, retaining over 92% capacity even in freezing conditions of -20°C, virtually eliminating winter range degradation.

Chairman Xia Shunli of Yiwei Technology, a subsidiary of GAC Group, believes that sodium-ion batteries have the potential to complement lithium iron phosphate batteries, striking a balance between cost and performance.

JAC Group's Yiwei brand has already set its sights on the future. A sodium-ion version with an even bigger, 186 miles range is planned for release in the second half of the year. Yiwei wants to accelerate the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries and drive the widespread adoption of electric vehicles among the general public.

Via