FAW J6P electric heavy-duty truck. Credit: FAW Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member FAW‘s heavy-duty truck arm, FAW Jiefang, has announced a milestone in the development of new energy commercial vehicles, successfully completing all-scenario testing of a heavy-duty truck powered by sodium-ion battery technology. The project, conducted in collaboration with HiNa Battery, marks a critical breakthrough in addressing the industry’s long-standing challenges regarding battery performance degradation in extreme cold and slow charging speeds. The test vehicle, a FAW Jiefang J6P new energy pure electric tractor, was equipped with a 339 kWh high-capacity sodium-ion battery. Over a testing period spanning nearly seven months, the vehicle covered a cumulative distance of over 15,000 km. The results demonstrate the technology’s robustness in harsh environments. In extreme cold conditions of -40°C, the battery maintained over 90% of its usable capacity, offering a viable solution for logistics operations in high-latitude regions such as Northeast and Northwest China. The sodium-ion-loaded trucks under testing. In addition to its cold-weather performance, the vehicle offers improvements in operational efficiency. It can be fully charged in just 20 to 25 minutes, a capability that aligns with the industry’s push for rapid energy replenishment. Furthermore, the battery demonstrated exceptional durability, with a cycle life exceeding 8,000 cycles under fast-charging conditions, surpassing conventional industry standards. The electrification of heavy-duty trucks is set to become the next major trend. Previously, 11 Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Transport and the National Development and Reform Commission, jointly released an implementation plan to scale up the application of new energy heavy-duty trucks (NE-HDTs). The policy sets an ambitious target: by 2030, the market penetration rate of NE-HDTs in China is expected to reach 40%, with the total fleet size exceeding 1.6 million units, accounting for approximately 20% of all heavy-duty trucks. According to the company’s website, HiNa Battery is a Chinese company specialising in sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries. HiNa holds core patents covering cathode materials (Na-Cu-Fe-Mn-O), anode materials (anthracite-based soft carbon), and manufacturing processes, achieving energy densities of 155–165 Wh/kg. Its products target large-scale energy storage, low-speed and commercial electric vehicles, and security applications.
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