JAC Group’s Yiwei, the Volkswagen-backed Chinese electric automaker, has just introduced the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery-powered electric car in China on December 27.
According to Gasgoo, the groundbreaking Yiwei 3 EV rolled off the production line yesterday. The automaker aims to kick off large-scale customer deliveries as early as next year.
Yiwei background
Founded earlier this year, Yiwei is a new JAC Group-owned electric vehicle brand backed by German automaker Volkswagen. VW owns 75% of this new joint venture, enabling it to take complete control of management.
Electrek further noted that VW owns a 50% stake in JAC’s parent company, Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Holdings (JAG), while the state owns the other half.
Remarkably, Yiwei is apparently the first company to debut a sodium-ion battery-powered EV.
“Sodium-ion batteries will become an important battery type, complementary to LFP batteries, and a low-cost solution that promotes the popularization of mass electric vehicles to masses,”
Yiwei Tech Chairman, Xia Shunli
About the model
The Yiwei 3 seems to be a rebranded model of the Sehol E10X hatchback from JAC Group. According to local reports, it decided to cancel the Sehol label and rebrand all its offerings to either JAC or Yiwei at the same time it announced the Yiwei brand in May 2023.
For context, the Sehol E10X hatchback equipped with the Na+ battery’s technical details are as follows:
- 25 kWh capacity
- 120 Wh/kg energy density (single cell 140 Wh/kg)
- 3C to 4C charging (10% – 80% in 20 minutes)
- 252 km range for E10X
- HiNa NaCR32140 cell
In April, JAC officially revealed the Yiwei 3 at the Shanghai Auto Show. As per the pictures revealed today, the new sodium-ion-powered EV is highly likely the Sehol E10X.
It initially launched the model with an LFP battery, with plans to launch the sodium-ion battery-powered counterpart later. Now, the automaker has delivered on its promise with the production of the new variant powered by HiNA Battery’s sodium-ion cylindrical cells.
The model will reportedly employ JAC’s UE module tech, a honeycomb battery format like BYD’s Blade battery.
Technical details
The Yiwei 3 will feature two powertrain configurations with both front-wheel drive setups, including 70 kW and 100 kW motor. It enables a CLTC-rated range of up to 505 km owing to its 51.5 kWh battery.
Presented below are the Yiwei 3’s specifications, as displayed by Chinese auto dealer group Hengxin Auto Group:
| Yiwei 3 | 405km Lite | 405kmAIR | 405km pro | 2023 505km Pro | 2023 505km Pro+ |
| manufacturers | JAC | JAC | JAC | JAC | JAC |
| level | Small car | Small car | Small car | Small car | Small car |
| energy type | pure electric | pure electric | pure electric | pure electric | pure electric |
| electric motor | Pure electric 95 horsepower | Pure electric 95 horsepower | Pure electric 95 horsepower | Pure electric 136 horsepower | Pure electric 136 horsepower |
| Pure electric cruising range (km) Ministry of Industry and Information Technology | 405 | 405 | 405 | 505 | 505 |
| Maximum power (kW) | 70(95Ps) | 70(95Ps) | 70(95Ps) | 100(136Ps) | 100(136Ps) |
| Maximum torque (N·m) | 135 | 135 | 135 | 210 | 210 |
| gearbox | Electric vehicle single speed gearbox | Electric vehicle single speed gearbox | Electric vehicle single speed gearbox | Electric vehicle single speed gearbox | Electric vehicle single speed gearbox |
| Length x width x height (mm) | 4025x1770x1560 | 4025x1770x1560 | 4025x1770x1560 | 4025x1770x1560 | 4025x1770x1560 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2620 | 2620 | 2620 | 2620 | 2620 |
| Body structure | 5-door 5-seater car | 5-door 5-seater car | 5-door 5-seater car | 5-door 5-seater car | 5-door 5-seater car |
| Maximum speed(km/h) | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Battery Type | Lithium iron phosphate battery | Lithium iron phosphate battery | Lithium iron phosphate battery | Lithium iron phosphate battery | Lithium iron phosphate battery |
| Battery capacity (kWh) | 41 | 41 | 41 | 51.5 | 51.5 |
| drive mode | front drive | front drive | front drive | front drive | front drive |
| Front tire size | 205/55 R16 | 205/55 R16 | 205/55 R16 | 205/55 R16 | 205/50 R17 |
| Active Safety Warning System | – | – | ○lane departure warning ○forward collision warning ○Reversing vehicle side warning ○DOW open door warning | ○lane departure warning ○forward collision warning ○Reversing vehicle side warning ○DOW open door warning | ○lane departure warning ○forward collision warning ○Reversing vehicle side warning ○DOW open door warning |
| Assisted driving level | – | – | ○L2 level | ○L2 level | L2 level |
| Hill Assist (HAC) | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Number of speakers (units) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Key fob type | smart remote key | smart remote key | smart remote key | smart remote key | smart remote key |
| mobile phone bluetooth key | mobile phone bluetooth key | mobile phone bluetooth key | mobile phone bluetooth key | mobile phone bluetooth key |
JAC aims to commence deliveries of the new Yiwei 3 in January 2024. The model’s adoption of the modular UE (Unitized Encapsulation) honeycomb structure and cylindrical sodium-ion cells will significantly boost its stability and performance, potentially challenging current market leaders in the compact hatchback segment.
