- CATL targets lithium-air batteries with a theoretical 3,500 Wh/kg energy density to leapfrog EV and grid storage.
- Commercialization is at least a decade away due to insulation, catalyst, electrolyte, and dendrite technical hurdles.
- Meanwhile CATL is scaling sodium-ion production now, investing RMB 5 billion and launching mass-market models in 2026.
CATL has identified lithium-air batteries as a key future technology direction, according to Chief Scientist Wu Kai, speaking at the 2026 Forum on Building China Into an Equipment Manufacturing Power.
Wu said lithium-air batteries carry a theoretical energy density of up to 3,500 Wh/kg, roughly five to ten times higher than today’s mass-produced liquid lithium-ion batteries.
Compared with current technologies, mainstream liquid lithium batteries typically top out at around 350 Wh/kg. Solid-state batteries under development target 500-600 Wh/kg, while lithium-sulfur batteries are estimated at 800-1,000 Wh/kg.
If commercialized at scale, lithium-air batteries could reshape both electric vehicle architecture and energy storage system design through a major jump in energy density.
The technology itself is not new. The concept dates back to the 1970s. The first rechargeable lithium-oxygen battery emerged in the 1990s.
Research efforts have continued globally for decades. IBM explored lithium-air technology around 2010. In 2024, a U.S. research team developed a lithium-air battery capable of more than 700 charge-discharge cycles. The same team reported further progress in 2025, achieving 1,200 Wh/kg energy density with a cycle life of 1,000 cycles under laboratory conditions.
Lithium-air batteries use metallic lithium as the anode. Oxygen from ambient air serves as the cathode active material, absorbed through a porous carbon structure. The design differs fundamentally from conventional lithium-ion batteries, relying on atmospheric oxygen rather than solid cathode materials. This architecture underpins its lightweight characteristics and ultra-high theoretical energy density.
Major technical hurdles remain. Lithium peroxide generated during discharge exhibits strong insulating properties. Catalytic materials still face reaction-kinetics challenges. Electrolyte stability remains limited. Lithium metal anodes are also prone to dendrite formation, raising reliability concerns.
As a result, lithium-air batteries remain at the laboratory stage. Industry observers generally expect large-scale commercialization to require at least another decade.
While lithium-air technology remains a long-term prospect, sodium-ion batteries are moving toward industrialization much faster.
CATL unveiled its mass-production-ready sodium-ion battery platform last year. Wu recently said the company expects large-scale sodium-ion battery production to begin this year.
To support that push, CATL has launched Phase VI expansion of its Fuding production base in Fujian Province. The company plans to invest RMB 5 billion ($725 million) in a new sodium-ion battery production line, adding 40 GWh of annual capacity.
On Feb. 5, CATL and Changan Automobile jointly announced plans to launch the world’s first mass-produced passenger vehicle powered by sodium-ion batteries. The model is expected to reach the market in mid-2026.
According to the latest data from South Korea’s SNE Research, CATL installed 141.4 GWh of power batteries globally during the first four months of this year, up 19.8% year-on-year. Global market share rose to 40.1%, extending the company’s lead as the world’s largest EV battery supplier.
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