ZF withdraws from collaboration with CATL on Techtrans II and Naxtra projects. Can sodium-ion batteries at 450 PLN/kWh become a lifeline for the Polish EV market? We examine specs, prices, and market impact.
Imagine this: winter at -30°C, and your Tesla or ID.4 cruises along with 90% WLTP range as if it were a summer barbecue. CATL Techtrans II and Naxtra – the sodium-ion monsters – have just been cut by ZF. But is this the end, or the beginning of a Polish revolution?
Automotive supplier ZF announced cuts within its Electrified Powertrain Technologies division. Projects with CATL Techtrans II and Naxtra – the sodium-ion stars – are going under the axe. The reason? Slower-than-planned EV growth and contracts teetering on the edge of loss. According to PSPA estimates, the Polish EV market is growing 40% year-on-year, but lithium batteries are getting pricier like fuel on holiday.
"Lithium packs are like an old Ursus tractor – they pull, but in the frost they choke and stall. Sodium ones? A hybrid workhorse!" Despite the cuts, ZF boasts improved EBIT and free cash flow above EUR 1 billion (approx. PLN 4.3 billion).
Techtrans II and Naxtra are no joke. Data from CATL:
According to IBRM Samar, the TCO of sodium-ion batteries is 25-30% lower than LFP.
Estimates (PSPA/forecasts):
Na-ion (CATL): 400-500 PLN/kWh
LFP (LG Wrocław): >650 PLN/kWh (+160% since 2024)
NMC: 800+ PLN/kWh
An 81 kWh pack? Sodium for PLN 36-40k. With Mój Elektryk subsidies (up to PLN 40k) – entry-level EV below PLN 100k! Import from China in 2026, no battery tariffs?
| Battery | Price (PLN/kWh) | Energy density (Wh/kg) | Cycles | Retention at -30°C (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATL Techtrans II / Naxtra (Na-ion) | 450 | 175 | >10,000 | 90 |
| LG LFP (Wrocław) | 650 | 160 | 4,000 | 60 |
| NMC (standard) | 800 | 200 | 2,000 | 70 |
| BMZ (Dzierżoniów, LFP) | 700 | 155 | 3,500 | 65 |
LG Wrocław is pumping out LFP, BMZ in Dzierżoniów is mixing things up, Northvolt… well, facing troubles. But CATL's sodium gigafactories start mass production in 2026. The controversy: LFP is half-way, sodium is full independence from lithium. PSPA: "Sodium is a revolution for Poland, where lithium prices are going wild."
ZF cuts because it fears the market? Nonsense! CATL sodium-ion batteries are a salvation for Polish EVs – cheaper, tougher in the frost, everlasting. Clarkson: "Lithium is for softies, sodium is for tough guys!" Share if you're waiting for Techtrans II in Poland!
Yes! According to official CATL data, Na-ion batteries retain 90% capacity at -30°C, while standard LFP loses up to 40% performance and drops to 60% capacity. This is a breakthrough for Polish drivers – an 81 kWh pack in winter still delivers a real range of 450+ km. Sodium technology uses a unique electrolyte structure that does not solidify at low temperatures the way lithium solutions do. Tests in Scandinavian conditions confirmed this specification, making Techtrans II an ideal choice for Polish climates.
After 10,000 cycles – roughly 5 million kilometres for an 81 kWh pack – replacement won't be needed for 99% of drivers! For comparison: the average Pole drives 15,000 km per year, which equals 333 years of operation. Even with intensive use (50,000 km/year) a CATL Techtrans II battery will last 100 years. And if replacement were ever needed? The estimated cost in 2026 is PLN 36,000-40,500 for an 81 kWh pack (450 PLN/kWh), about half the price of current LFPs from LG Wrocław. TCO drops by 25-30% compared with lithium solutions, which translates into savings of PLN 60,000-80,000 over the vehicle's lifetime.
Paradoxically – yes, and faster than expected! ZF's cuts concern the development collaboration, but CATL has its own sodium gigafactories launching mass production in 2026. Chinese automakers (BYD, Chery, Geely) have already announced Na-ion models for the European market. In Poland, imported cars with Techtrans II batteries will likely appear in Q3 2026, with prices starting below PLN 100,000 after Mój Elektryk subsidies (up to PLN 40,000). PSPA estimates that sodium-ion EVs could capture 15-20% of the Polish market as early as 2027, especially in the fleet and budget segments. ZF's cuts are a retreat by a German player, but the Chinese sodium wave is just getting started at full speed!
An 81 kWh CATL Techtrans II pack delivers a WLTP range of 500+ km – identical to an LFP of the same capacity. An energy density of 175 Wh/kg places the sodium solution just behind NMC (190-210 Wh/kg) and clearly above older LFPs (140-160 Wh/kg). The key difference? In winter at -15°C, the sodium pack still offers a real range of 400-420 km, while LFP drops to 280-310 km. This means that in Polish conditions, CATL Naxtra effectively delivers 30-35% more winter range than the lithium competition at the same price. It's a gamechanger for drivers in Podlasie, Mazury, or Śląsk, where temperatures regularly fall below -20°C.
| Battery | Price (PLN/kWh) | Energy density (Wh/kg) | Cycles | Retention at -30°C (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATL Techtrans II / Naxtra (Na-ion) | 450 | 175 | >10,000 | 90 |
| LG LFP (Wrocław) | 650 | 160 | 4000 | 60 |
| NMC (standard) | 800 | 200 | 2000 | 70 |
| BMZ (Dzierżoniów, LFP) | 700 | 155 | 3500 | 65 |
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