Battery maker Hina Battery today unveiled three sodium-ion battery cell products and announced a partnership with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC), which has made one of its models the first to carry sodium-ion batteries.

The unveiling of the Sehol E10X test vehicle means that sodium-ion batteries are starting to be used in passenger cars, after the new batteries were mainly used in electric two-wheelers and for energy storage.

The test vehicle has a battery pack with a capacity of 25 kWh and an energy density of 120 Wh/kg. The model has a range of 252 km and supports fast charging of 3C to 4C. The battery pack uses cells with an energy density of 140 Wh/kg.

The Sehol E10X is currently available in seven versions with a guide price range of RMB 46,900 ($6,810) to RMB 76,400.

In addition to the announcement of the sodium-ion battery-equipped test vehicle, Hina Battery today officially launched three sodium-ion battery cells.

These three types of cells are NaCR32140-ME12 cylindrical cell, NaCP50160118-ME80 square cell and NaCP73174207-ME240 square cell, with energy densities of 140 Wh/kg, 145 Wh/kg and 155 Wh/kg respectively. (Early LFP batteries had energy densities of around 160 Wh/kg).

According to Li Shujun, general manager of Hina Battery, the company's sodium-ion batteries are geared to mainstream market demand and have the advantages of long life, wide temperature range and high power, and are ready for mass production.

The company is advancing cooperation with a number of leading companies, and these sodium-ion battery products will be widely used in two-wheelers, passenger cars, commercial vehicles, home and commercial and industrial energy storage, and large-scale energy storage, he said.