CATL has set up a research and development facility in Shanghai and partnered with Shanghai Jiaotong University aiming to “achieve breakthroughs in next-generation technologies for new energy vehicles,” according to an announcement released Saturday. Facing pressure from a looming shortage of lithium and other materials used in batteries, the leading Chinese battery maker has been ramping up efforts to guide the industry away from lithium-ion batteries. In August last year, the company announced plans to produce sodium-ion batteries by 2023 . [CATL release, in Chinese]