In a recent wide-ranging interview with CnEVPost, a CATL spokesperson talked about the company's overseas partnership model and its layout for new technologies.

As the price of lithium carbonate falls, the cost advantage of sodium-ion batteries is decreasing. CATL believes that its new generation of sodium-ion batteries, along with additional technological innovations, will allow the low-cost batteries to still do their job.

CATL is building a second-generation of sodium batteries that won't completely replace lithium batteries, but will shine in many areas, the spokesperson told CnEVPost.

“CATL has developed the AB battery pack solution. By combining sodium-ion batteries with lithium-ion batteries in the same pack, the inadequate energy density of sodium-ion batteries at this stage can be made up, and the advantages of sodium-ion batteries in good performance under large powers and low temperatures can be brought into play, and hence more application scenarios can be developed,” the spokesperson said.

“Meanwhile, we are developing our second-generation sodium-ion batteries with energy density of 200 Wh/kg, and will provide updates as the situation progresses,” the spokesperson added.

($1 = RMB 7.2411)

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