BAIC Unveils Prismatic Sodium Ion Battery Breakthrough

Beijing Automotive Group Co. (BAIC Group) has unveiled a prototype sodium-ion battery with industry-leading performance, signaling a further step forward in its next-generation battery development efforts. The company noted that the new battery complements its existing Aurora Battery platform, which now encompasses lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion technologies to serve a range of applications.

The prototype cell, designed in a prismatic form, delivers an energy density exceeding 170 watt-hours per kilogram, placing it among the highest-performing sodium-ion cells currently under development. BAIC also stated that the battery pack supports 4C fast-charging, allowing for a full charge in roughly 11 minutes under optimal conditions.

In addition to energy density and charging speed, BAIC emphasized the cell’s strong performance in extreme temperatures. The battery operates reliably between –40 °C and 60 °C, retaining over 92% of its rated energy output at –20 °C. In safety tests—including overcharging, prolonged heating, and mechanical impact—the pack did not catch fire or explode, surpassing current national safety standards.

BAIC’s research team has completed the prototype design of the cell and established a mass-production process for the prismatic modules. The company has filed around 20 patent applications covering critical areas such as electrode materials, electrolyte formulations, and system integration technologies.

With this announcement, BAIC joins a growing number of Chinese automakers and battery suppliers pursuing sodium-ion technology as a cost-effective alternative to conventional lithium-ion cells. In a similar development, another leading Chinese manufacturer has reported that its third-generation sodium-ion platform is projected to achieve a cycle life of 10,000 cycles, highlighting the technology’s potential in both automotive and stationary energy storage markets.