5th January 2024 – (Xuzhou) Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD has embarked on the construction of a groundbreaking sodium-ion battery plant in Xuzhou, solidifying its position as a leader in the evolving energy storage landscape. The company recently signed a 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) contract for the facility, which is set to become the world’s largest sodium-ion battery plant, with an impressive annual output capacity of 30 gigawatt hours.
The milestone signing took place at BYD’s headquarters in Shenzhen, where BYD’s subsidiary, Findreams Battery, joined forces with Huaihai Group, a prominent tricycle manufacturer. The collaboration aims to establish Xuzhou as the hub for battery production, specifically targeting micro vehicles and scooters, which are expected to benefit greatly from sodium-ion battery technology.
This venture marks an ongoing partnership between BYD and Huaihai Group. In November 2022, the two companies jointly invested 10 billion yuan in the construction of a standard battery plant, spanning an extensive 310,000 square meters. With trial production scheduled to commence in March 2024, this facility is nearing completion.
While BYD’s Seagull EV was initially rumoured to be equipped with a sodium-ion battery, the vehicle ultimately launched with BYD’s standard LFP Blade battery in April. However, other Chinese manufacturers are also actively exploring sodium-ion battery technology. In April, CATL announced that Chery Auto’s iCar brand would be the first automaker to adopt its Na-ion batteries. Although there have been no recent updates on the progress of this initiative, it underscores the industry’s growing interest in sodium-ion battery solutions.
