Sodium-ion electric cars: first car unveiled, none confirmed for the UK
The Changan Nevo A06 is the first production car with CATL's sodium-ion Naxtra cells. CATL promises cheaper packs and strong cold-weather performance, but no maker has confirmed a UK car.
Quick answers
- Changan and CATL describe the Nevo A06 as the first mass-produced passenger car with a sodium-ion battery, a 45kWh CATL Naxtra pack with an initial range above 400km (about 250 miles) on the Chinese CLTC test cycle.
- CATL's Naxtra cells reach up to 175Wh/kg, in the same territory as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells used in many UK-sold EVs.
- The cold-weather claim is the headline: CATL says more than 90% of capacity is retained at minus 40°C.
- Sodium is far cheaper than lithium, but estimates of the cell saving vary and the benefit is unproven at scale.
- We have found no confirmation from Changan or any other maker of a sodium-ion electric car for UK showrooms.
The first mass-production electric car with a sodium-ion battery was unveiled by Changan and CATL in February 2026, but no manufacturer has confirmed one for Britain. The Changan Nevo A06 uses a 45kWh CATL Naxtra pack with an initial range above 400km, or about 250 miles (CarNewsChina). For UK drivers the appeal is a cheaper battery that copes with cold, though we have found no confirmed UK launch.
What is the Changan Nevo A06?
Changan and CATL describe the Nevo A06 as the world’s first mass-produced passenger car powered by a sodium-ion battery (IAA Mobility). The battery was announced with CATL’s Naxtra cells in the first mass-production vehicle (EV Infrastructure News). Changan has not announced a UK version.
How does sodium-ion compare with LFP?
Sodium-ion swaps lithium for sodium and avoids nickel and cobalt. The Naxtra cell reaches up to 175Wh/kg, which puts it close to the LFP cells already common in affordable EVs. That matters because earlier sodium-ion cells were seen as too bulky for cars.
| Feature | Sodium-ion (CATL Naxtra) | LFP |
|---|---|---|
| Energy density | Up to 175Wh/kg | Comparable |
| Cold weather | Over 90% capacity retained at minus 40°C | Range falls and charging slows in the cold |
| Raw materials | Sodium, no lithium, nickel or cobalt | Lithium and iron phosphate |
| Cell cost | Estimates vary, no UK price | Current benchmark |
| UK car on sale | None confirmed | Many models |
Sources: CarNewsChina, TechRadar. The comparison is of manufacturer and press claims, not independent tests.
Why the cold-weather claim matters in the UK
Lithium-ion cars lose range in freezing weather, by an amount that varies widely by model. CATL says Naxtra holds more than 90% of capacity at minus 40°C. A British winter rarely approaches minus 40°C, so the practical gain is in the ordinary cold snaps where today’s cars lose range. Our guides to how much range you lose in winter and why an EV charges slower in cold weather show the size of the problem sodium-ion aims to reduce.
Will sodium-ion make electric cars cheaper?
Sodium carbonate has historically cost a small fraction of lithium carbonate, but estimates of the finished cell saving vary, and a big saving is unlikely at first while production scales up. No one has published a UK price for a sodium-ion car. The saving also depends on volumes, since LFP is already cheap after years of mass production. For the current price picture, see our look at how EV batteries work and what is actually new in EV battery technology.
Why no UK sodium-ion car yet?
The A06 was aimed at China first, and neither Changan nor any rival has confirmed a sodium-ion EV for UK showrooms. We would expect first cars to be small, cost-focused models, in line with the view that sodium-ion suits budget and cold-climate cars while LFP carries mainstream volume and nickel-rich cells serve long-range models. That is analysis, not an announcement. Our sub-£20,000 electric cars coming to the UK list shows what is confirmed for now.
What this means for you
Do not delay a purchase waiting for sodium-ion. No UK car has been confirmed, and today’s LFP cars already offer good value. If you are weighing a wait, our buy now or wait guide covers the trade-offs. If winter range worries you, a heat pump and preconditioning on a home charger help more than any future chemistry. Treat sodium-ion as a development to watch: the first UK confirmation will most likely come from a maker already selling Chinese-built EVs here.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 6 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sodium-ion battery?
It stores energy using sodium instead of lithium, and needs no nickel or cobalt. CATL's Naxtra cells reach up to 175Wh/kg, comparable with LFP.
Which car has a sodium-ion battery?
The Changan Nevo A06, which carries a 45kWh CATL Naxtra pack and is described as the world's first mass-produced sodium-ion passenger car.
Can I buy a sodium-ion electric car in the UK?
Not yet. We have found no confirmed UK launch from Changan or any other manufacturer.
Are sodium-ion batteries better in cold weather?
CATL says its Naxtra battery keeps more than 90% of its capacity at minus 40°C, and TechRadar reports it beats lithium batteries in the cold. Lithium chemistries lose range and charge more slowly in the cold, which is why sodium-ion appeals for UK winters. These are manufacturer claims, not independent tests.
Will sodium-ion make electric cars cheaper?
It could. Sodium carbonate costs far less than lithium carbonate, but industry estimates of the cell saving vary and a significant saving is unlikely at first while production scales up. No UK price has been announced.
Sources and further reading
- iaa-mobility.comIAA MobilityPrimary source referenced in this article.
- carnewschina.comChangan and CATL unveil world's first mass-produced sodium-ion passenger EVThe 45kWh pack, 175Wh/kg and the 400km initial range.
- evinfrastructurenews.comCATL sodium-ion battery debuts in first mass-production vehicleThe production launch of the Naxtra cells.
- techradar.comThe world's first EV with a sodium-ion battery has landedCold-weather performance against lithium batteries.
- smart-motoring.comSodium-Ion Battery: Range, Cost and UK CarsUK availability of sodium-ion cars.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
Related reading
View all
EV Battery Technology in 2026: What Is Actually New
LFP dominates with 81% market share, CATL's sodium-ion EV arrives, solid-state inches toward production -- here is the real state of EV batteries
Ioniq 3 from £18,495 leads eight EVs opening UK orders in October
Eight electric models open UK order books this month, from an £18,495 Hyundai to Kia's no-grant GT trio. Here is what each costs, how far it goes and when it arrives.
Sub-£20,000 electric cars: five new models on sale or due by 2027
The Hyundai Ioniq 3 and Honda Super-N already cost less than £20,000, and Renault, Dacia and Nissan have promised more. We list each one's range and which prices are actually confirmed.
Should You Buy an EV in 2026 or Wait for Cheaper Models?
An honest look at where EV prices are heading and whether the wait is worth it for UK buyers
How Do EV Batteries Work? Chemistry, LFP vs NMC, Degradation and Solid State Explained
From cells and modules to the battery management system, LFP versus NMC chemistry, what degradation really looks like and where solid state stands: everything a UK driver needs to know
How Much Range Do You Lose in Winter With an EV?
Honest figures on cold-weather range loss, which cars handle it best and how to minimise the impact