- HiNa Battery and Tonly delivered the world’s first 676 kWh sodium-ion electric mining truck.
- HiNa’s Starfish system charges in 20–25 minutes, offers >165 Wh/kg cell density and >8,000 cycles.
- Sodium-ion batteries are rapidly scaling in China, promising lower costs, better cold performance, and diesel displacement.
China has delivered an electric mining truck powered by sodium-ion batteries, marking the technology’s entry into the heavy-duty engineering equipment sector.
On August 4, sodium-ion battery maker HiNa Battery announced the delivery of a jointly developed sodium-ion battery mining truck with mining vehicle manufacturer Tonly. The company called it the world’s first sodium-ion battery-powered pure electric mining truck.
The vehicle is built on Tonly’s proven 120E platform and uses HiNa Battery’s self-developed HiNa Starfish battery system, featuring a total capacity of 676 kWh.
The HiNa Starfish battery system was launched by HiNa Battery in March 2025. Its battery cells deliver an energy density of more than 165 Wh/kg. Under fast-charging conditions, the system can be fully charged within 20 to 25 minutes, while maintaining a cycle life of more than 8,000 cycles.
HiNa Battery said the battery system was customized for mining operations, focusing on the industry’s demand for “smaller battery packs, faster charging, longer usage.”
Mining environments typically involve high dust levels and wide temperature fluctuations, placing higher demands on battery durability and low-temperature performance, while mining remains one of the largest diesel-consuming industries. HiNa Battery expects sodium-ion batteries to accelerate the shift from diesel-powered mining vehicles to electric solutions.
For mining operators, battery lifespan and charging efficiency directly affect operating costs. Compared with traditional diesel mining trucks, electric mining vehicles can cut fuel expenses and reduce maintenance needs.
The longer cycle life and stronger low-temperature performance of sodium-ion batteries could further improve the economics of heavy-duty vehicle electrification.
The delivery marks another step for HiNa Battery in commercial vehicle applications. In June, FAW Jiefang completed testing of a sodium-ion battery heavy-duty truck system jointly developed with HiNa Battery.
The test vehicle was a FAW Jiefang J6P new energy electric tractor truck equipped with a 339 kWh sodium-ion battery pack. It completed more than 15,000 kilometers of road testing. Even at temperatures as low as -40°C, the vehicle maintained more than 90% available battery capacity, while the battery cycle life exceeded 8,000 cycles.
As commercial vehicles accelerate electrification, sodium-ion batteries are emerging as an important alternative technology alongside lithium-ion batteries.
Passenger vehicle applications are also moving closer to mass production. In February 2026, Changan Automobile and CATL announced plans for the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery passenger vehicle, featuring CATL’s Naxtra sodium-ion battery technology.
The battery delivers an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, supports more than 400km of pure electric range, and maintains stable operation in low-temperature environments. CATL said sodium-ion batteries will complement lithium-ion batteries in the future, covering different price segments and application scenarios.
BAIC has also completed sodium-ion power battery prototype development. Its first sodium-ion battery pack uses prismatic cells, offering an energy density above 170 Wh/kg, supporting 4C fast charging, and operating between -40°C and 60°C.
Compared with mainstream lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and ternary lithium batteries, sodium-ion batteries hold advantages in resource availability, cost potential, and low-temperature performance.
Sodium resources are abundant and widely distributed. Some manufacturing processes are compatible with existing lithium battery production systems, making sodium-ion batteries a key option for battery technology diversification.
Industry data from ASKCI Consulting showed global sodium-ion battery shipments reached 9 GWh in 2025, up 150% year over year. Energy storage accounted for 62.2% of applications, while China represented 92% of global production capacity and shipments.
Soochow Securities expects global sodium-ion battery shipments to exceed 15 GWh in 2026, potentially reaching more than 500 GWh by 2030, with penetration surpassing 30%.
Against this backdrop, HiNa Battery’s first sodium-ion electric mining truck represents a key step for the technology, moving from validation toward commercial deployment.
Discover more from ChinaEVHome
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
