In 2026, the correction in lithium carbonate prices drove up lithium battery production costs. Coupled with uncertainties in lithium resources supply, cost pressure across the new energy industry became increasingly prominent. Leveraging the advantages of abundant sodium resources, balanced distribution, and controllable costs, sodium-ion batteries have leapt from being a “backup option” for lithium batteries to a key direction for industry breakthrough...

Under the coordinated promotion of Foxconn Technology Group, the "Sodium-Ion Cathode Material Project" jointly carried out by Rongtan Technology and the team from Central South University was successfully concluded, with the release of the new-generation sodium-ion battery cathode material "3S1." The project adopted the model of "industry demand-driven, industry-university-research collaboration," leveraging the complementary strengths of the three parties to jointly advance the new material from the laboratory to industrialisation.

Under the coordination and promotion of Foxconn Technology Group, the "Sodium-Ion Cathode Material Project" collaboratively conducted by Rongtan Technology and the Central South University team has been successfully concluded, with the release of a new-generation sodium-ion battery cathode material, "3S1." The "3S1" cathode material demonstrates outstanding overall performance: it has a powder compaction density of approximately 3.4 g/cm³, supports discharge at over 4C, and achieves a high-rate discharge of ≥5C in actual tests of 18650 battery cells. Under low-temperature conditions of -40°C, the discharge capacity retention rate exceeds 65%. It has also passed reliability tests such as high-temperature storage, balancing energy density, rate capability, and all-climate adaptability.

The progress of the recall incident this week is as follows:

[Public Notice on the LFP Recycling and New Sodium-ion Battery Cathode Material Project] Recently, the Environmental Protection Bureau of Le'an County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province, has announced information related to the environmental impact assessment of the renovation and expansion project of the LFP cathode material recycling production line and the new construction project of the sodium-ion battery cathode material production line by Jiangxi Weibang Material Technology Co., Ltd. The company plans to construct one sodium-ion battery cathode material production line, R&D laboratories, and related supporting facilities within its existing factory premises, with an annual production capacity of 200 tons of composite sodium iron phosphate (sodium pyrophosphate iron phosphate) for sodium-ion battery cathode materials. Meanwhile, it will upgrade all production equipment for the existing project (the lithium battery electrode material recycling project) on site, increasing the recycling capacity of lithium battery electrode materials from 3,000 tons/year to 10,000 tons/year.

[Public Notice on Expansion of Jiangxi LFP Cathode Material Recycling Project] On June 25, Jiangxi Weibang Material Technology Co., Ltd. conducted the second public information disclosure for the environmental impact assessment of its project involving the renovation and expansion of the LFP cathode material recycling production line and the construction of a new sodium-ion battery cathode material production line. Jiangxi Weibang Material Technology Co., Ltd. plans to invest 210 million yuan to build one sodium-ion battery cathode material production line, R&D laboratories, and related supporting facilities within its existing factory premises. The annual production capacity of sodium-ion battery cathode material, specifically sodium iron phosphate (sodium iron pyrophosphate), is projected to be 200t/a. Meanwhile, the company will upgrade all production equipment for its existing project (the lithium battery electrode material recycling project) on site, increasing the recycling capacity of lithium battery electrode materials from 3,000t/a to 10,000t/a.