Research and development of batteries for electric cars is running very fast. The companies in the sector are all working on new products that will allow electric cars to make an important qualitative leap. CATL , for example, made a very interesting announcement. The Chinese company, in fact, has presented its first generation sodium ion battery providing the first information. A potentially interesting technology that brings several advantages. However, as CATL also admitted, there & # 39; & egrave; still work to improve some aspects.
The Chinese company has made it known that it has been dedicated for years to the development of this technology, now overcoming a whole series of problems that hindered its use. According to CATL, the sodium ion cell has a similar operating principle to the lithium ion cell. However, sodium ions have a larger volume than lithium ions and have higher requirements for stability. structural and properties kinetics of materials. To solve these problems, CATL used new materials for cathodes and anodes .
WORK WELL AT LOW TEMPERATURES
According to what was communicated, the accumulators equipped with this technology have a density; energy up to 160 Wh/kg and can be recharged up to 80% in 15 minutes at room temperature. In addition, they work very well even at low temperatures . The Chinese company says that at minus 20 degrees, the capacity to release energy would be only 10% lower than in & quot; optimal & quot; environmental conditions.
Compared to LFP batteries (lithium iron phosphate), these new accumulators have a high density; lower energy. However, in the future this may no longer be; a problem since CATL is already; working to reach a density energy of 200 Wh/kg and more. Moreover, this technology does without all those raw materials which today cost more and more. The Chinese company also makes it known that the construction of the sodium ion cells is; perfectly compatible with lithium-ion cell production equipment and processes, and production lines can be quickly modified to achieve high capacity. productive.
CATL also added that it was to integrate the two types of cells inside the same battery pack. In short, the new cells are safe, offer a long useful life, recharge quickly, work well in the cold and can be integrated with lithium-ion ones. The goal is to create a production system to market this new solution by 2023 .
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