CATL’s Naxtra Sodium-Ion Battery Delivers 500 km Range with World-First Safety Certification

CATL has achieved a major breakthrough with its Naxtra sodium-ion battery, which has become the first sodium-ion battery in the world to meet China’s GB 38031-2025 “Safety Requirements for Power Batteries of Electric Vehicles.” 

Alongside this milestone, the technology delivers up to 500 km of driving range, closing the gap with mainstream lithium-ion batteries.

The GB 38031-2025 standard, which comes into effect in July 2026, is regarded as one of the strictest benchmarks for EV battery safety. It covers aspects such as thermal diffusion resistance, bottom impact safety, and fast-charging reliability. Tested by the China Automotive Technology and Research Centre (CATARC), the Naxtra battery successfully cleared every parameter at both the cell and pack levels.

What sets the Naxtra apart is its ability to combine safety with competitive range performance. With an energy density of 175 Wh/kg, the battery can support electric vehicles with driving ranges of up to 500 km per charge, rivalling lithium iron phosphate (LFP) packs.

Beyond range, the Naxtra is engineered for real-world reliability, supporting fast charging at rates up to 5C and offering a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. It also performs strongly in cold climates, retaining 90 percent of its capacity even at -40°C, making it particularly suited to regions where conventional lithium-ion packs struggle.

CATL plans to begin mass production of the Naxtra sodium-ion battery in December 2025, with its first applications expected in the company’s Choco-SEB battery swapping platform. This will allow EVs powered by sodium-ion packs to combine long driving ranges with the convenience of rapid battery swaps.

By achieving a world-first safety certification and proving it can deliver 500 km of range, CATL’s Naxtra sodium-ion battery positions the technology as a serious alternative to lithium-ion for the next generation of electric vehicles.