EVs Equipped with Solid-State Batteries Achieve 1500km Range

According to overseas media reports, Toyota plans to launch next-generation electric vehicles starting from 2026, which will be more advanced than the current models and feature significantly improved battery performance. Products equipped with high-spec solid-state batteries may have a maximum range of up to 1500km. Toyota intends to offer different battery packs to meet diverse consumer needs, providing both more affordably priced EVs and high-performance EVs. Entry-level products will adopt lithium iron phosphate batteries, with a 20% increase in range, a 40% reduction in cost compared to the current bZ4X, and the ability to charge to 80% within 30 minutes.

Toyota's high-end products will use high-performance batteries currently under development, with a range of 1000km. Meanwhile, Toyota will further increase the range by reducing wind resistance and lightening the vehicle weight. The batteries will adopt a prismatic shape and have higher energy density. Moreover, the starting price will be 20% cheaper than the battery of the bZ4X, and it can be charged to 80% within 20 minutes. In addition, Toyota is also developing high-performance lithium-ion batteries, which are planned to be launched in 2027 or 2028, with an expected 10% increase in range and a 10% reduction in cost.

In addition to traditional batteries, Toyota also plans to commercialize solid-state batteries in 2027 or 2028, with a range of up to 1200km (20% more than high-performance batteries), and can be charged to 80% within 10 minutes, close to the refueling speed of fuel-powered vehicles. That's not all - Toyota stated that it will also develop high-spec solid-state batteries with a range of 1500km, 50% more than high-performance batteries.

Source: Xcar

Numerous Participants in the Sodium-Ion Battery Track

Under the guidance of relevant favorable policies, the industrialization process of sodium-ion batteries in China has been accelerating since the beginning of this year, and the sodium-ion battery industry has maintained steady development.

Recently, a number of listed companies have announced the latest investment progress and mass production plans for sodium-ion batteries.

On the evening of June 9th, Pylontech issued an announcement stating that the company intends to increase capital in Jiangsu Zhongna Energy Technology Co., Ltd. together with its affiliated party Foshan Sinan Xinyu Equity Investment Partnership and other investors. Among them, Pylontech plans to subscribe for 283,786 yuan of the newly increased registered capital of Zhongna Energy with 30 million yuan of its own funds. After the completion of this capital increase, the company will hold 1.9231% equity of Zhongna Energy. Pylontech focuses on the R&D, production and sales of lithium iron phosphate battery cells, modules and energy storage battery systems. With the continuous expansion of the company's business scale, to meet market demand, the company has continuously enriched the variety of energy storage products and carried out R&D work on new projects such as sodium-ion batteries.

Zhongna Energy's main business is to provide customers with overall sodium-ion battery energy solutions, including sodium-ion battery cathode materials, prismatic aluminum-shell batteries, pouch batteries, etc. On May 22nd, Zhongna Energy's 10 billion yuan sodium-ion battery project was signed and settled in Guangde City, Anhui Province. It is reported that the project plans to build 20GWh sodium-ion battery cells and 10GWh sodium-ion battery systems, making it the largest single sodium-ion battery construction project in China at present. The first phase of the project is planned to start construction by the end of 2023. After the project is fully put into production, it is expected to achieve an annual output value of over 10 billion yuan.

Companies such as Plastic Omnium China (Pulte) have also announced the latest investment dynamics of sodium-ion batteries. On May 31st, Pulte issued an announcement stating that its holding subsidiary Jiangsu Ha sida Power Co., Ltd. plans to establish a subsidiary in Liuyang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hunan Province, with a plan to invest in the construction of a 30GWh sodium-ion and lithium-ion battery and system production base, with a total project investment of about 10.2 billion yuan.

2023 is regarded by the industry as the first year of sodium-ion battery industrialization. With continuous breakthroughs in technological R&D, the industrialization process of sodium-ion batteries has further accelerated since the beginning of this year.

Following the release of the first-generation sodium-ion battery in July 2021, CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) has made another important progress in the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries. On April 16th, CATL announced that the company's sodium-ion batteries have been installed in Chery models.

Tianneng Holdings is accelerating the promotion of the industrialization development strategy of sodium-ion batteries. In March this year, Tianneng Holdings released a new generation of sodium-ion battery products and completed sample delivery to several first-tier two-wheeled vehicle manufacturers, and is currently carrying out relevant verification work. Recently, Tianneng Holdings stated at the performance briefing that the company has the capacity for dedicated production and supply of 300MWh sodium-ion battery cells and module products.

Great Power Energy recently stated at the general meeting of shareholders that the cycle life of the company's polyanion system sodium-ion batteries has reached more than 6,000 times, the layered oxide system sodium-ion batteries have been delivered to vehicle manufacturers for loading tests, the anode-free sodium battery products are continuously iterated and optimized, and the development of cathode materials is also proceeding normally.

Listed Companies Steadily Promote Sodium-Ion Battery Mass Production Plans.

On June 9th, Sunwoda founder Wang Mingwang stated at the 2023 World Power Battery Conference that the energy density of the company's sodium-ion batteries has reached 160Wh/kg, which can meet the market demand of new energy vehicles such as A00, A0 and A-class, and mass production is expected in the third quarter of 2024.

Farasis Energy revealed at the performance press conference that the company has carried out cooperation with JMC Group on sodium-ion battery products, and it is expected to complete vehicle loading within this year. At the same time, the company is actively docking with well-known domestic A00-class whole vehicle customers and other two-wheeled vehicle customers. At the end of February this year, Farasis Energy received a letter of intent for EV3 sodium batteries from JMC Group, and will sell sodium-ion battery pack assemblies to the latter. Bettery recently stated during institutional research that the company's sodium-ion battery cathode and anode materials have passed the certification of some domestic customers, achieved orders of more than ton-level, and have the conditions for mass production and supply. At present, the "Tanna 350" anode material launched by the company has a specific capacity of up to 350mAh/g and an initial charge-discharge efficiency of 90%, and the "Beina-O3B" cathode material has a specific capacity of up to 145mAh/g.

Source: China Securities Journal