Today the giant Chinese battery cell maker CATL revealed its first generation sodium-ion battery and it’s better than I expected. Let’s see some highlights of the press release. Based on a series of innovations in the chemistry system, CATL’s first generation of sodium-ion batteries has the advantages of high-energy density, fast-charging capability, excellent thermal stability, great low-temperature performance and high-integration efficiency, among others. The energy density of CATL’s sodium-ion battery cell can achieve up to 160Wh/kg, and the battery can charge in 15 minutes to 80% SOC at room temperature.

Tomorrow the giant Chinese battery cell maker CATL will finally reveal its first sodium-ion battery (SIB). SIBs are potentially much cheaper to produce than lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Nonetheless, initially, with small-scale production the cost won’t be impressive, it will be roughly the same as current LFP (LiFePO4) cells that are more energy dense. Estimated SIB costs per kWh Small-scale production (MWh levels): 500 yuan (65 euros) per kWh Large-scale production (GWh levels): 200-300 yuan (26-39 euros) per kWh #Sodium #cell price on GWh production scale estimated at ¥ 0.2-0.3/Wh, on smaller production scales at ¥ 0.5/Wh. GWh scale might be reached in 3 years. Sodium has potential in <300km NEDC #EV segment (EVERBRIGHT SEC, GUOTAI JUNAN SEC)https://t.co/C6Dl1mEJlY

Previously, the ORA Good Cat had a LFP (LiFePO4) battery in the standard range version (401 km), but the long range version (501 km) was only available with a NCM battery. Fortunately, recent Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) homologation documents show us that a LFP battery will also be available in the long range version. Let’s see some details that I managed to extract from MIIT documents. ORA Good Cat standard range specs (CC7000BJ01GBEV)

We finally know the exact figures of range and battery capacity for the BYD Dolphin, thanks to recent documents published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Let’s see those figures. BYD Dolphin standard range version Length: 4.070/4.125 mm Wheelbase: 2.700 mm Width: 1.770 mm Height: 1.570 mm Gross vehicle weight: 1.660 kg (with passengers and cargo) Curb weight: 1.285 kg (empty vehicle) Motor: 70 kW and 180 N.m of torque Max speed: 150 km/h Battery capacity: 30,72 kWh Battery energy density: 140 Wh/kg Battery chemistry: LFP (LiFePO4) Blade battery by BYD Range: 301 km (NEDC), roughly 225 km in WLTP Consumption: 10,3 kWh/100 km (NEDC), roughly 13,7 kWh/100 km in WLTP The standard range version will probably be available only in the domestic market.

SVOLT is a Chinese battery cell maker subsidiary of the giant Chinese automaker GWM (Great Wall Motors), that besides LFP (LiFePO4) and NCM is already producing NMx (LNMO) battery cells. SVOLT has its NMx battery cells available in two different sizes. One size is compatible with Volkswagen MEB platform and the other size is a long cell - alternative to the BYD Blade battery. SVOLT NMx battery cell (MEB compatible)

The Cherry Cat is the first SUV made by ORA, which is the affordable brand of the giant Chinese automaker GWM (Great Wall Motors) that also owns the battery cell maker SVOLT. This will be the first electric car to use the NMx (LNMO) cobalt-free battery cells from SVOLT. Moreover, there will also be a version with LFP (LiFePO4) battery cells, which are also cobalt-free. Let’s see more details. ORA Cherry Cat (NMx version)

Nowadays, good electric cars already have enough range for most people, but they are still much more expensive than their ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) counterparts. This is why LFP (LiFePO4) and CTP (cell-to-pack) are extremely important technologies to make electric cars mainstream. Automakers that don’t plan to use these two technologies as soon as possible aren’t serious about mass producing electric cars. For example, Stellantis plans to start using CTP packs with LFP cells only by 2024…

Audi’s former design director Wolfgang Egger keeps doing an impressive job at BYD. Long gone are the days when most Chinese cars were ugly, and the ones that looked nice were carbon copies of Western cars. Making BYD electric cars more appealing to European customers is now the main mission that the German design director has at hand. I have been warning Euro legacy automakers for some time that BYD wants to dominate the European EV market and this can happen sooner than most people think.

Stellantis EV Day 2021 was embarrassing. The 3 hour video presentation was all about putting together multiple nonsense commercials and delaying the introduction of affordable electric cars. First, let’s see the highlights of the press release. Plans to invest more than €30 billion through 2025 in electrification and software, while continuing to be the automotive efficiency frontrunner, with investment efficiency 30 percent better than industry average Targeting over 70 percent of sales in Europe and over 40 percent in the United States to be low emission vehicle (LEV) by 2030 All 14 brands committed to offering best-in-class fully electrified solutions Delivering BEVs that meet demands of customers, with ranges of 500-800 km/300-500 miles and class-leading fast charging capability of 32 km/20 miles per minute Four flexible BEV-by-design platforms, scalable family of three electric drive modules and standardized battery packs to cover all brands and segments Platforms designed for long life via software and hardware upgrades Global EV battery sourcing strategy of over 260GWh by 2030, supported by five “gigafactories” between Europe and North America Plans include dual battery chemistries: a high energy-density option and a nickel cobalt-free alternative by 2024 Solid state battery technology introduction planned in 2026

Chinese customers can now order the Tesla Model Y Standard Range MIC (Made in China) with a starting price of 291.840 yuan (37.995 euros) before governmental incentives. After subsidies the price drops to 276.000 yuan (35.932 euros), only 10 % higher than Tesla’s most-basic Model 3 sedan made in China. First deliveries of this new more affordable version are expected to start next month. Tesla Model Y SR MIC highlights

The upcoming BYD Dolphin (EA1) is probably the most awaited electric car right now. It’ll be the first electric car that can realistically reach the top 10 of world’s best selling cars, competing head-to-head with gas cars in price and availability. However, there is some misinformation online about this amazing third generation electric car from BYD. While it’ll be built on the new BYD e-platform 3.0 that allows 1.000 km of NEDC range and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds, it doesn’t mean that the small electric hatchback will get these specs. Notice that this is an electric car that BYD is aiming for everybody, but especially for younger buyers that want good electric cars that are also affordable.

Yesterday I wasted my time watching Renault’s eWays pathetic event. This was the event where Renault was going to show us how to popularize electric cars and finally make them affordable. I was expecting the announcement of something obvious to cut costs like a CTP (cell-to-pack) battery pack made with prismatic LFP (LiFePO4) cells. Instead, Renault changed the strategy and moved the goalposts again. Renault’s electric cars won’t compete with their gas-counterparts in price and availability anytime soon.