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The world’s largest EV maker, BYD, broke ground on its first sodium-ion battery plant this week. BYD is investing $1.4 billion (RMB 10 billion) with 30 GWh planned annual capacity.

You likely heard that BYD just topped Tesla in overall EV volume to become the largest electric car maker globally. However, BYD is also a top global battery manufacturer.

Although lithium-ion is currently the primary battery in vehicles, companies are developing new chemistries to unlock lower prices, more range, faster charging, and less raw material use.

BYD’s Blade Battery powers other automakers’ EVs, including Tesla, Hyundai, Toyota, and Ford, to name a few. The Blade Battery is an LFP battery designed and built by BYD’s FinDreams.

FinDreams began building BYD’s Blade Battery in 2020. Last June, the unit created its own joint venture with Huaihai Holding Group to expand into sodium-ion batteries.

The company aims to be the world’s largest supplier of sodium battery systems. Huaihai said it began exploring sodium batteries years ago after seeing their economic value.

BYD-first-sodium-ion-battery
BYD Dolphin EV (Source: BYD)

BYD begins building first sodium-ion battery plant

Sodium-ion batteries offer a cheaper alternative to lithium but have a lower energy density. The batteries are most useful in low-cost small cars or two-wheelers that don’t need the higher energy density.

FinDreams and Huaihai agreed to build the first BYD sodium-ion battery plant in Xuzhou in November.

BYD-first-sodium-ion-battery
BYD Atto 3 (Source: BYD)

The plant is not the first collaboration between the companies. BYD and Huaihai partnered a year earlier, in November 2022, to build a plant for Blade battery production. Construction began last January, and early production is planned for March.

Rumors surfaced in 2022 that BYD would begin sodium-ion battery production in 2023, with the Seagull being the first EV to receive the new tech. However, BYD’s Seagull was launched in April with an LFP Blade Battery.

first-sodium-ion-battery
YiWei sodium-ion battery-powered EV (Source: JAC Motors SA)

The news comes after JAC Group’s YiWei, a new EV brand backed by Volkswagen, began building its first sodium-ion battery-powered EV. The first model rolled off the production line last week, and deliveries are expected to begin this month.

Chairman of Yiwei Tech, Xia Shunli, said sodium-ion batteries will be “a low-cost solution that promotes the popularization of mass electric vehicles to masses.”

Battery giant CATL also revealed in April that Chery Auto’s iCar brand will be the first to use its sodium-ion batteries.

Source: CarNewsChina

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Electrify America sweetens the deal for the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

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Electrify America sweetens the deal for the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

Electrify America and Audi of America are expanding their EV charging partnership to cover the new 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron.

The all-new 2025 Q6 e-tron is Audi‘s latest addition to the e-tron model line-up, which currently includes the Q4 e-tron and e-tron GT. The Audi Q6 e-tron is expected to arrive this summer and will include one year of free Electrify America charging with Plug&Charge capabilities.

Audi Q6 e-tron owners have a year from the date of purchase to use the free Electrify America charging. Owners can enroll to activate the charging benefit via the myAudi App. Drivers can use the app or in-vehicle navigation to locate nearby charging stations, verify charger availability, and navigate to the charging stations.

Electrify America is the first open DC fast-charging network to enable Plug&Charge technology at all its charging stations. To activate Plug&Charge, drivers just need to enroll their EV in Electrify America’s charging plan.

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Click here to find a local dealer that may have the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron in stock. –trusted affiliate link

Read more: VW finally rolls out Plug&Charge on its 2023 ID.4s


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Rivian’s R1S broke into the top 5 best-selling EVs last month

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Rivian's R1S broke into the top 5 best-selling EVs last month

Rivian (RIVN) is off to a strong start in 2025. The company’s sales surged in February, with the R1S breaking into the top five best-selling EVs in the US. The electric SUV is once again a fan favorite.

Rivian R1S was the fifth top-selling EV in February

Rivian is cementing its status as a true luxury EV brand. After delivering over 51,500 vehicles last year, the company is charging into 2025 with strong momentum.

Although Rivian may not share monthly sales figures, new data from Cox Automotive’s February EV Market Monitor reveals a big win.

According to the report, Rivian’s sales jumped 34% from last February, with over 4,000 vehicles sold. The Rivian R1S was the fifth best-selling EV by sales volume, trailing only the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Honda Prologue.

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Tesla’s sales dipped 10%, with the Cybertruck (-32.5%) and Model 3 (-17.5%) seeing the biggest drops from last year. The Model Y held up better, slipping just 3.1%.

In total, 95,692 EVs were sold last month. Although that’s down 5.9% from January, it was the highest volume for the month of February, up 10.5% from last year.

Rank Model
1 Tesla Model Y
2 Tesla Model 3
3 Ford Mustang Mach-E
4 Honda Prologue
5 Rivian R1S
Top five best-selling EVs in the US February 2025 (Source: Cox Automotive)

Just this week, the Palo Alto Police Department unveiled the first R1S police cruiser, a big milestone as the electric SUV expands into law enforcement.

Rivian expects deliveries to remain about flat this year at around 46,000 to 51,000. However, it’s not because of less demand. The company is shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant in the second half of the year as it prepares to launch the midsize R2.

The company’s CFO, Claire McDonough, confirmed earlier this month that Rivian is “working around the clock” to prepare the facility for R2 production.

We got a sneak peek of it earlier this week as it nears production after CEO RJ Scaringe posted a photo of the R2 body with production dies.

The R2 will open a new market for Rivian, with prices starting at around $45,000, or about half the cost of its current R1S ($77,700) and R1T ( $71,700). Although it will be significantly cheaper, the company promises it won’t be half the vehicle with the “Rivian essence” still included.

After cutting R1S lease prices by over $200 per month in February, the Rivian’s electric SUV may be an even better deal than the Model Y. Will it continue closing the gap this year?

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The Kia EV2 is real: Here’s our first look at the low-cost EV on the road [Video]

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The Kia EV2 is real: Here's our first look at the low-cost EV on the road [Video]

Kia is gearing up to launch its smallest, most affordable EV yet. Despite its small size, Kia promises the EV2 has “a big personality” with its latest tech, features, and sleek new design. Here’s our first look at the Kia EV2 after it was spotted in public testing for the first time.

Kia EV2 spotted testing in Korea for the first time

The EV2 is Kia’s upcoming entry-level electric SUV, slated to sit below the EV3. We got our first look at it last month after Kia unveiled the EV2 concept, a preview of the upcoming production model.

It was showcased alongside the EV4 and PV5 as part of Kia’s rapidly expanding EV lineup. Kia wants to offer “EVs for all,” with prices ranging from under $30,000 to upwards of $80,000.

According to Kia, the EV2 is designed to make “electric vehicles truly accessible for everyone.” It features the brand’s updated styling, including its signature vertical daytime running lights (DRLs) and Star Map lightning.

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Although it’s Kia’s smallest electric SUV, the EV2s upright stance, wide wheel arches, and rugged bumpers give it a more premium feel, almost like the three-row EV9.

Kia didn’t stop here. With folding second-row seats, you can slide the front seat back as far as possible, providing a comfortable space when parked. Kia says it’s enough to stretch your legs or even “sit on the vehicle’s flat floor to enjoy a meal.”

The entry-level electric SUV will be loaded with advanced software, connectivity, and other tech, including vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities to power up electronics or home appliances. With OTA updates, the EV2 will only get smarter and more functional over time.

Kia EV2 spotted on the road testing in Korea for the first time (Source: HealerTV)

Ahead of its official launch, the compact electric SUV was spotted in Korea on the road testing for the first time. The video from HealerTV gives us our closest look at the EV2 as it nears production.

Like its other EV concepts, the EV2 will look almost identical to the concept when it arrives in production form. From the side, it almost looks like the Kia Soul with a boxy silhouette. Despite the camouflage, the rear gives the same impression with similar proportions to the concept.

The EV2 will also likely include Kia’s new ccNC infotainment system, which features dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens.

Kia plans to launch the EV2 in Europe “and other regions” in 2026. Although prices and specs will be revealed closer to launch, the electric SUV, based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, is expected to feature at least 300 miles (605 km) WLTP range.

Kia’s CEO told Autocar it aims to launch the EV2 at around £25,000 ($32,000) in the UK. However, that was in 2023. With battery advancements and more, prices could be even lower now.

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