Category: Electric

CATL, BYD’s sodium-ion batteries both to be in mass production within this year, report says

CATL and BYD's sodium-ion batteries to be put into mass production will both be a mix of sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries, according to local media.

CATL, BYD's sodium-ion batteries both to be in mass production within this year, report says-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

BYD's progress in mass production of sodium-ion batteries does not seem to differ much from CATL's, although it has not announced the latest progress.

CATL and BYD's sodium-ion batteries will both be carried in mass-produced vehicles within the year, and they will both be a mix of sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries, according to a report by local media 36kr today.

CATL's sodium-ion battery will be installed in the first model of Chery's new energy vehicle (NEV) brand iCAR, which is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of this year, according to the report.

CATL, BYD's sodium-ion batteries both to be in mass production within this year, report says-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The sodium-ion battery will also be used in Chery's small NEVs, such as the QQ Ice Cream and the Little Ant, the report said.

With the big rise in lithium prices last year, leading battery makers including BYD and CATL have accelerated the pace of sodium-ion battery development.

BYD's sodium-ion battery will also be in mass production in the second half of the year, and the first model to carry the battery will be the Seagull, the report said, citing a BYD source.

The battery will also be a hybrid sodium-ion and lithium-ion battery, according to the report.

Sodium-ion batteries cost less, but currently have low energy density.

The energy density of sodium-ion batteries is now about similar to that of lithium iron phosphate batteries around 2014, the latter of which can only support a range of about 150km in small micro vehicles, the 36kr report noted.

CATL unveiled its first-generation sodium-ion battery on July 29, 2021, saying that the energy density of the single cell had reached 160Wh/kg.

The company said at the time that the energy density of the first-generation sodium-ion battery was slightly lower than that of lithium iron phosphate batteries. However, it has obvious advantages in low-temperature performance and fast charging, especially in high-power application scenarios in alpine regions.

CATL's next-generation sodium-ion battery will have an energy density exceeding 200Wh/kg, it said at the 2021 launch event.

Sodium-ion batteries are expected to be carried in electric vehicles, said Huang Qisen, vice president of CATL research institute, at a forum related to sodium-ion batteries on November 29, 2022.

As for applications in passenger cars, sodium-ion batteries can generally meet the needs of models with a range of up to 400 kilometers, Huang said at the forum.

With its pioneering AB battery system integration technology, CATL has achieved a mix of sodium ion and lithium ion, allowing them to complement each other and thus increase the energy density of the battery system, Huang said at the time.

This approach is expected to enable sodium-ion batteries to support electric vehicle models with a range of up to 500 kilometers, he said, adding that models with that range account for 65 percent of the market share, meaning the use of sodium-ion batteries is promising.

CATL's sodium-ion batteries will first be used in Chery's models, it announced on April 16.

Last November, there were several rumors that BYD's sodium-ion battery would be mass-produced in 2023 and that the first model to be equipped with the battery would be the Seagull. But none of these rumors were confirmed.

Earlier today, LatePost reported that BYD had planned to put the sodium-ion battery in the new Seagull model in the second quarter of this year, but that plan has been delayed.

BYD responded by saying that the information was untrue, the LatePost story noted.

BYD launched the Seagull and started pre-sales of it on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, and the model is the latest addition to its Ocean series.

The car is available in three versions, with pre-sale prices of RMB 78,800 ($11,450), 83,800 and 95,800 respectively.

Notably, the model uses BYD's blade batteries based on lithium iron phosphate chemistry with pack capacities of 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh, respectively.

The car is offered in two range versions, with the lower-priced two models having a CLTC range of 305 km and the highest-priced version having a range of 405 km.

The Seagull received more than 10,000 orders in the 24 hours after pre-sale began, BYD said yesterday.

($1 =RMB 6.8837)

Chery to be 1st automaker to adopt CATL's sodium-ion batteries

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Nissan Makes Several Moves Toward An EV Future

Over the last few weeks, Nissan had several press releases that aren’t big news on their own. But, taken together, it shows that the company is taking EVs seriously and continues to make them a significant part of the company’s future. Let’s take a look at these news items and see how they add up! […]

NIO supplier Innovusion partners with Fuyao to put LiDAR behind windshield

Innovusion and Fuyao have begun joint research that has resulted in LiDAR integration behind the front windshield with less than 10 percent attenuation of detection performance.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The roof LiDAR setup has been complained by some to affect the aesthetics of the vehicle design. Now, local Chinese LiDAR manufacturers are working to put the component inside the vehicle.

NIO's LiDAR supplier Innovusion has partnered with local auto glass giant Fuyao Group to create LiDARs that can be mounted behind the front windshield, according to a press release yesterday.

There are currently two main mounting options for LiDAR, mounting it on top of the car like NIO's models, or placing the part next to the headlights as does.

Mounting LiDAR behind the front windshield, which does not affect the vehicle's exterior design and makes LiDAR less susceptible to the external environment, becomes one of the best options, Innovusion said.

However, the solution faces a number of technical challenges, including detection signal attenuation, noise from the LiDAR motor, and heat dissipation problems.

(Image credit: Innovusion)

Through its innovation, Fuyao has been able to optimize the LiDAR's waveband transmittance, Innovusion said.

The initial collaboration between the two will be based on Innovusion's Robin-E, which has dimensions of 117 mm * 100 mm * 44 mm, a total weight of about 450 grams, less than 9 W of power consumption and less than 20 dB(A) of noise.

The two companies have started joint research and development and have already achieved LiDAR integration with the camera behind the front windshield, with detection performance attenuation of less than 10 percent, Innovusion said.

Founded in 2016, Innovusion has R&D centers in Silicon Valley, Suzhou and Shanghai, and LiDAR manufacturing sites in Ningbo and Suzhou.

On March 28, 2022, NIO delivered the first ET7 vehicles, marking the mass production of Innovusion's Falcon LiDAR product. ET7 and other newer NIO models are equipped with Innovusion's image-grade, ultra-long-range LiDAR Falcon.

Prior to Innovusion, Hesai (NASDAQ: HSAI) announced on April 14 a new LiDAR called the ET25, which it says is an in-cockpit LiDAR designed to be placed behind the front windshield.

The ET25 is an ultra-thin, long-range LiDAR, with the "ET" standing for Extremely Thin and the "25" referring to its height of just 25 mm.

Hesai unveils ultra-thin LiDAR ET25 that can be placed behind windshield

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NIO upgrades Power Up Plan to Power Journeys, ramping up efforts in charging network

NIO will add an additional 20 charging routes under the Power Journeys plan this year, after having completed 52 routes.

NIO upgrades Power Up Plan to Power Journeys, ramping up efforts in charging network-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

NIO (NYSE: NIO) has upgraded a program designed to improve the travel experience for electric vehicle owners, after opening dozens of destination charging routes over the past three years.

The electric vehicle (EV) maker announced on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18 that it is upgrading its Power Up Plan to Power Journeys and will continue its push to build out charging facilities.

With NIO's plan to add 1,000 battery swap stations and 10,000 charging piles this year, Power Journeys will meet the charging demand of more customers, said William Li, the company's founder, chairman and CEO, in a brief release.

NIO will add an additional 20 charging routes under the Power Journeys plan this year, covering areas including the Silk Road, southeastern Guizhou and the Xilin Gol grasslands.

NIO announced the Power Up Plan during the Beijing auto show in September 2020, with the aim of deploying destination DC charging piles in popular travel, leisure and business destinations to form a nationwide charging network.

According to the plan, NIO's ultimate goal is to deploy more than 30,000 destination charging piles in China.

To achieve this goal, NIO previously said it would provide a total of RMB 100 million in construction and operation subsidies to all partners who are willing to share resources and waive service fees for NIO users, with an average subsidy of RMB 1,000 per charging post per year for three years.

Up to now, NIO has completed 52 destination charging routes.

The routes are popular with users and have validated NIO's thinking, Li said, adding that the company has decided to deploy more charging and battery swap facilities next in places with poor infrastructure.

Li said NIO wants Power Journeys to meet users' needs for energy replenishment, so that where gasoline cars can go electric vehicles can go, too.

For NIO, ramping up infrastructure is one of its key tools to enhance the appeal of its vehicles, with deliveries of its NT 2.0 platform-based models all set to begin in the coming months.

Up to 70 percent of NIO owners are in China's first- and second-tier cities, and for the less developed third- and fourth-tier cities, the company is looking to expand with battery swap stations rather than showrooms that include NIO Houses as well as NIO Spaces, its co-founder and president Qin Lihong said last month.

NIO keeps goal of doubling sales this year despite price war causing greater challenges

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Neta GT sports car officially launched, priced from $26,000

Deliveries of the Neta GT will begin in the first half of the year, and are expected to allow consumers to gradually begin to change the perception of the brand as low-end.

Neta Auto, the electric vehicle brand of Hozon Auto, is making its first electric sports car available, with deliveries to begin in the next two months.

The Neta GT sports car was officially launched on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, with starting prices of RMB 178,800 ($26,000) to 227,800.

The car measures 4,715 mm in length, 1,979 mm in width and 1,415 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,770 mm.

For comparison, Neta's flagship sedan, the Neta S, measures 4,980 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width, 1,450 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,980 mm. The Neta S currently has a starting price range of RMB 242,800 to RMB 341,800.

The Neta GT is available in single-motor and dual-motor versions, with the single-motor version powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 170 kW.

Its dual-motor four-wheel drive version has a total maximum power of 340 kW and a maximum torque of 620 Nm, and takes 3.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.

The Neta GT's battery pack has three options -- 64.24 kWh, 74.48 kWh and 77.9 kWh -- and the CLTC range includes three versions -- 560 km, 580 km and 660 km, as shown in previous regulatory filings.

Its power battery suppliers include , Eve Energy, and battery types include lithium iron phosphate batteries as well as ternary batteries.

Hozon Auto CEO Zhang Yong said previously that the sports car will be mass-produced and delivered in the first half of 2023.

Neta has been seen as a budget EV maker since its inception, as its vehicles are priced primarily for the low-end market.

The Neta S is Neta's first effort at the premium end of the market, and the release of the Neta GT is expected to allow consumers to gradually begin to change their perception of the brand at the low end.

In addition to the Neta GT, Neta also unveiled a model called the Neta GT Speedster, a convertible based on the Neta GT, at the Shanghai auto show.

Neta delivered 10,087 vehicles in March, essentially unchanged from 10,073 in February and down 16.12 percent from 12,026 in the same month last year, data previously released by the company showed.

($1 = RMB 6.8783)

Neta unveils two-door electric sports car Neta GT, deliveries expected in H1

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BYD secures preferential prices for lithium battery raw materials in Chile

BYD's project in Chile is designed to produce 50,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate cathode material per year, with an estimated investment of at least $290 million.

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BYD received preferential prices for lithium carbonate in Chile, where it was awarded a lithium mining contract a year ago in the lithium-rich country.

After an evaluation process that began in November 2022, the Production Development Corporation, Corfo, assigned the status of specialized lithium producer to BYD Chile SpA, the Chilean development agency announced Wednesday.

As a result, BYD Chile SpA will access the preferential price for one of the lithium carbonate quotas available in the corresponding call base, up to 11,244 tons/year of battery grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), and a supply contract by SQM Salar SA until the year 2030, for its project BYD Chile Lithium Cathode Plant that will be installed in the Antofagasta Region, according to a statement.

The project is designed to produce 50,000 tons per year of lithium iron phosphate cathode material (LiFePO4) in Chile, using lithium carbonate as a raw material, with an expected investment of at least $290 million.

The project is expected to come into operation in late 2025, and during its investment phase it plans to create 500 jobs, the statement said.

On August 31, 2022, Corfo opened a call for companies to present proposals for the materialization of investment projects that allow the preparation and execution in Chile of lithium value-added products.

On November 7, 2022, the first application entered the call through the permanent application model and was declared admissible on November 22 and began to be evaluated according to the different dimensions and factors described in the basis of the call, the statement said.

This follows the award of one of the five lithium mining contracts to BYD Chile SpA in January last year.

BYD, China's largest maker of new energy vehicles (NEVs), is also one of the largest manufacturers of power batteries.

BYD's power battery installed base in China in March was 7.40 GWh, ranking second with a 26.65 percent share, according to data released earlier this month by the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA).

's power battery installed base in March was 12.49 GWh, continuing to rank first with a 44.95 percent share.

NIO enters race for lithium with Australian investment

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Insurance registrations for week ending Apr 16: Tesla 12,500, Li Auto 6,300, NIO 700

NIO's weak performance may be because it is on the eve of multiple product switches, as it will begin deliveries of the new ET7, new ES6, EC7 in May and will begin deliveries of the new ES8 in June.

(NASDAQ: TSLA) and (NASDAQ: LI) kept sales strong last week, while NIO (NYSE: NIO) was weak, the latest data show.

Li Auto sold 6,300 units in the week of April 10 to April 16, far outpacing China's other new car-making brands, the automaker said in an April 19 post to its WeChat account.

Li Auto didn't say what the sales figure was based on, but it was apparently insurance registrations. Previously, we had access to the data every Tuesday, and Li Auto's practice was to share some of it on Wednesdays.

The main source that provides data on auto insurance registrations in China stopped sharing that data this month, but Li Auto continues to share some of it.

Tesla sold 12,500 units last week, according to the data table shared by Li Auto. Tesla's sales in the previous week were 6,973, according to data previously shared by Li Auto.

NIO sold about 700 units last week, according to the data. The electric vehicle maker sold 1,316 units in the previous week.

NIO's weak performance may be because it is on the eve of multiple product switches. It launched the new ET7 and unveiled the new ES6 on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, with deliveries both set to begin in May.

In addition to the new ET7 and the new ES6, NIO will also start delivering the EC7 coupe SUV in May and will start delivering the new ES8 in June, according to plans it previously annouced.

sold 1,300 units last week, up from 904 units the week before, according to data shared by Li Auto. XPeng unveiled the new SUV G6 on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, but pricing information is unknown.

sold 1,600 units last week, up from 1,476 the week before. Leapmotor sold 1,700 units last week, up from 1,157 the week before. Neta sold 1,800 units last week, up from 1,526 the week before.

Among premium brands, BMW sold 14,500 cars last week including internal combustion engine vehicles as well as NEVs, Mercedes-Benz 13,400 and Audi 12,600, according to data shared by Li Auto.

Separately, retail sales of NEVs in China from April 1-16 were 223,000 units, up 89 percent year-on-year and up 13 percent from the same period last month, according to data released yesterday by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

Considering that NEV retail sales were 91,000 from April 1 to April 9, this means that during the week of April 10 to April 16, NEV retail sales in China were 132,000 units, up 45 percent from the previous week.

From April 10-16, retail sales of all passenger vehicles in China were 335,328 units, up 80 percent year-on-year and up 23 percent from the same period last month, according to the CPCA.

Insurance registrations for week ending Apr 9: Tesla 6,973, Li Auto 4,177, NIO 1,316

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