Chinese automaker JAC delivered on Friday its first batch of electric vehicles powered by sodium ion batteries in Anqing, Anhui province.

The batteries of the five-seater vehicles, called Huaxianzi (flower fairy), were developed by HiNa Battery, a company affiliated with the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, according to the automaker.

The 10 vehicles in the first batch were purchased by the local government. JAC will soon produce more units of the same model, the company said.

"Sodium ion batteries have substantial cost, safety and sustainability advantages over conventional lithium ion batteries," said Li Shujun, general manager of HiNa Battery.

He said the energy density of the delivered cars' batteries is 140 to 160 watt hours per kilogram and will increase to 160 to 180 watt hours per kg in two years with innovations and breakthroughs in battery design and materials science.

"The delivery marks a global milestone in the industrialization of sodium ion batteries," said Xia Shunli, deputy chief engineer of JAC Group, at the delivery ceremony on Friday morning.

The industrialization of sodium ion batteries will play a key role in safeguarding China's resource security in the development of new energy vehicles, Xia said.

The scarcity and cost of lithium have been a long-standing challenge in the battery industry.

"China produces about 70 percent of the world's lithium ion batteries while the country itself owns only 6 percent of the world's lithium resources," said Li.

China currently imports 70 percent of its lithium, and the development of the nation's EV industry may be affected due to the limited supply of the metal, according to a previous report by Guotai Junan Securities.

Companies around the world have spent years looking for an alternative, and sodium ion battery technology has emerged as one of the most promising candidates, said Li.

The company has been focusing on sodium ion battery research and development for nearly 20 years, he added.

The sodium ion batteries were produced at HiNa's plant in Fuyang, Anhui province, according to the company.

zhulixin@chinadaily.com.cn