Changan sent electric vehicles for testing on snowy routes in subzero temperatures, highlighting SDA Intelligence and sodium-ion batteries.
Mr. Tan Penghong, Chief Brand Officer of China Changan Automobile Group, said Changan plans to gradually launch new vehicles equipped with sodium-ion batteries across multiple brands in the near future, reflecting a comprehensive approach to developing new energy technologies that meet practical usage needs.
This automotive test showcased both performance and safety technologies of Changan electric vehicles, featuring eight models under examination: DEEPAL S07, DEEPAL S05, DEEPAL L06, DEEPAL G318, DEEPAL HUNTER K50, NEVO Q05, NEVO Q07, KAICHENG HUNTER K70, and KAICHENG V919.
"From tests in extreme environments to everyday driving, every challenge we choose aims to elevate safety standards, ensuring users can have confidence in every journey," he said.
Changan’s vehicles equipped with sodium-ion batteries undergo systematic testing under challenging conditions to verify both performance and safety. Key highlights of the testing include:
- Performance in extremely low temperatures: The battery system can discharge stably, having been tested below –40 degrees Celsius, ensuring maintained battery efficiency and safety.
- Confirmation of advanced safety standards: Changan, in collaboration with CATL, conducted durability tests under extreme abuse conditions exceeding standard requirements.
These tests included multi-axis compression, penetration, and complete battery pack cuts without any smoke or explosions, confirming the battery system’s robustness, stability, and safety.
SDA Intelligence: Intelligent safety technology transitioning from test tracks to real roads.
This test highlighted Changan’s SDA Intelligence, which advances safety concepts from passive safety to proactive intelligent safety systems powered by AI, helping maintain vehicle stability through smart drive systems.
At the Snow Drive Testing at the Yakeshi test track, Changan deployed electric vehicles from DEEPAL, NEVO, and AVATR brands to prove performance and durability under harsh cold conditions and slippery snowy and icy surfaces.
This test represents an advanced phase of SDA Intelligence beyond laboratory simulations, focusing on assessing intelligent driving system performance and chassis control on surfaces with low and unpredictable traction.
The tests demonstrated that the AVATR 12 maintained stable control during emergency lane changes on icy surfaces, even with a tire blowout, as its distributed electric drive system precisely preserved driving direction. Meanwhile, the NEVO Q05 detected obstacles on slippery ice during Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) testing and safely executed emergency stops.
Systematic and rigorous testing for reliable safety.
Changan Automobile’s safety philosophy is grounded in testing and performance verification before delivery. Every vehicle undergoes comprehensive inspections on all dimensions under strict, systematic standards and a global laboratory network to ensure safety in all usage scenarios.
Changan invested over 3 billion yuan to establish the Western Automotive Proving Ground, covering approximately 2.33 square kilometers. It includes 14 specialized test tracks and more than 70 special surface types, supporting over 20 million kilometers of testing annually—equivalent to about 500 laps around the globe.
In software simulation testing, Changan operates the CHANGAN SDA Lab, China’s sole facility supporting over 400,000 simulation scenarios and averaging over 3.3 million kilometers of intelligent driving simulation daily. Rigorous testing combined with advanced lab capabilities forms the foundation of SDA Intelligence, ensuring every Changan vehicle delivers reliable safety from day one.
Continuing global-level testing.
The winter test track in Yakeshi, China, is just the beginning of Changan’s global testing plan for 2026. The company will continue tests in various world regions throughout the year, including Southeast Asia to assess durability in high humidity and the European Alps for high-altitude suspension tuning.
Additionally, tests in the Eurasian region will focus on winter driving confidence on snow and ice, using the AVATR 12 as the primary test vehicle. Latin America will see long-distance cross-country tests in Mexico, from Cancun to Merida, to evaluate durability and reliability over extended drives.
Proving performance on test tracks across multiple global regions under diverse environmental conditions confirms the reliable performance and technology of Changan’s electric vehicles, ensuring safety in every situation for users worldwide.