CBAK Energy has entered into an investment agreement with the Nanjing Gaochun Economic Development Zone to establish a new production facility. The project aims to add 12 GWh of annual capacity for large cylindrical sodium-ion cells and integrated battery systems. The company plans to initiate the project in the second half of 2027, provided that necessary financing is secured.
The production lines are designed to be flexible, allowing the company to manufacture either sodium-ion or lithium-ion cells depending on market demand. The development will proceed in phases, contingent on customer requirements and project readiness. This initiative follows positive internal test results for the company's 32140 NH-7Ah sodium-ion cell, which utilizes a sodium iron phosphate pyrophosphate cathode.
Internal tests indicate the 32140 cell can reach a 90% state of charge in 15 minutes and maintain over 95% capacity during 15C continuous discharge. At -40 degrees Celsius, the cell retained 87.68% of its capacity compared to a 25-degree baseline. The company projects a lifespan of at least 10,000 cycles for this model based on its internal testing protocols.
In addition to the new project, CBAK Energy intends to expand its existing Nanjing facility by 6 GWh annually by the end of 2026. This expansion will increase the site's total capacity to 10.5 GWh. Management is currently evaluating whether to install two production lines for 60150 model cells or a mix of 32140 and 60150 lines to address strong demand for the 32140 format.
