On November 10, 2026, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) said its expanding battery-swapping network in China could support wider adoption of sodium-ion batteries by reducing consumer concerns about driving range. Chairman Robin Zeng made the remarks at a Benchmark Mineral Intelligence event in Shanghai, according to Bloomberg.
Zeng said sodium-ion batteries provide sufficient range for daily urban travel, while more swap stations in cities and along highways could support longer weekend trips. CATL builds its own swapping stations and leases batteries to consumers. Its stations currently cover about 200 Chinese cities, and the company aims to operate more than 3,000 passenger car swap stations across China by year-end.
Battery swapping allows drivers to replace depleted packs with fully charged batteries within minutes as an alternative to conventional charging. CATL is promoting sodium-ion batteries for vehicle applications, citing cold-weather performance and the technology’s potential to improve safety and reduce costs. However, energy density remains a key concern for broader adoption.
CATL previously said it expects 10,000 to 20,000 electric vehicles to use its sodium-ion batteries this year. The company also views the chemistry as a way to reduce its exposure to sharp changes in lithium prices. CATL launched its Naxtra sodium-ion battery brand in April 2025 and jointly unveiled a Naxtra-equipped passenger vehicle with Changan Automobile in February this year.
According to information released by CATL at the time, the vehicle’s cells have an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg and provide a driving range of more than 400 kilometers (249 miles). The battery retains more than 90% of its capacity at minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit), the company said.
CATL Targets 3,000 Swap Stations for Sodium-Ion EVs
CATL plans to expand swapping infrastructure to ease range concerns and accelerate sodium-ion battery adoption in China.
Naxtra launched in April 2025; the network target addresses the range concern still limiting sodium-ion adoption.
CATL announced in December 2025 that it had built 1,020 Choco-Swap stations across 45 cities. Its subsidiary, Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology, said it planned to deploy Naxtra-based sodium-ion batteries across the swap network at scale starting in 2026.
Source: CnEVPost
