BYD signed a 10 billion yuan (1.4 billion USD) contract for a new battery plant in Xuzhou, a city about halfway between Beijing and Shanghai. The annual output capacity of 30 GWh will make it the world’s largest sodium-ion battery plant. On November 18, BYD’s subsidiary Findreams Battery and tricycle giant Huaihai Group signed an agreement to build a 10 billion yuan sodium-ion battery plant together, ITHouse reported. The signing ceremony took place in BYD’s HQ in Shenzhen.
Companies announced they would make Xuzhou the center of battery production for micro vehicles and scooters as those EVs will have the best use of sodium-ion packs.
This is not the first cooperation between BYD and Huaihai Group, as both companies teamed up to build a standard battery plant in November 2022. They jointly invested 10 billion yuan. The 310,000 square meters factory is nearly ready, with trial production to start in March 2024.
BYD Seagull was rumored to be the first mass-produced EV with a sodium-ion battery. However, when it was launched in April, it came with a standard LFP Blade battery from BYD. Other Chinese manufacturers are also not sleeping. CATL announced in April the first automaker to use its Na-ion batteries will be Chery Auto’s iCar brand. However, no progress since then has been announced.
Source:batteryindustry
