6 March 2023
JAC Motors unveils world’s first sodium-ion battery vehicle
The JAC Group’s joint venture with Volkswagen in China has made history by introducing the world’s first electric vehicle (EV) powered by a sodium-ion battery. This milestone could be a game-changer for the electric vehicle industry, as sodium-ion batteries offer a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium prices surged last year, creating huge cost pressures in producing lithium-ion batteries. However, sodium-ion batteries offer better cost performance and deliver excellent cycle performance, making them a good alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
The five-seat passenger vehicle, called Hua Xianzi (flower fairy), is fitted with a 25 kilowatt-hour (kWh) Na-ion battery from HiNa Battery Technologies that can travel up to 250 kilometres on a single charge. The Beijing-based high-tech company is affiliated with the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is involved in developing and commercialising sodium-ion batteries and aims to expand the new battery technology to other EV platforms, including buses, trucks and scooters.
While sodium-ion batteries have a lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, they have other advantages, such as better low-temperature performance, charging speed, a longer lifespan, and can be recharged more times without degradation. They are also less prone to overheating and other safety issues, making them a safer option for large-scale energy storage.
Cheaper raw materials are used in the manufacturing process of sodium-ion batteries. The scarcity and cost of lithium have been a challenge in the battery industry, with companies worldwide spending years looking for suitable alternatives. Sodium-ion battery technology has emerged as one of the most promising contenders. HiNa Battery Technology states that this breakthrough could help reduce EV production costs by ten percent.
The sodium-ion battery-powered Hua Xianzi represents an important step forward in the EV industry as sodium-ion battery technology provides a cost-effective solution that is safe, reliable and efficient. In addition, these batteries could help reduce the environmental impact of EVs.
“The future of electric vehicles looks promising with the introduction of more affordable and sustainable battery technology,” says Karl-Heinz Göbel, Chief Executive Officer of JAC Motors South Africa. “With the development of new battery technology, EV pricing will become more competitive, giving more car buyers access to new-energy vehicles.”
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About Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corporation Ltd. (JAC Motors)
JAC Motors may be a relative newcomer to the South African market; however, it has been a giant in the Chinese auto industry for almost 60 years. The company produces passenger cars, pick-ups and trucks for left- and right-hand drive markets. Its marketing network covers over 130 countries worldwide, including 28 African countries.
JAC Motors is a prolific producer of electric vehicles. In 2020 Volkswagen acquired an additional 25 percent stake in its Chinese electric vehicle joint venture with JAC Motors. The original joint venture between Volkswagen and JAC Motors was established in 2017, with each company holding 50 percent equity. This joint venture will become central to the two brands’ electric vehicle programmes in China.
