One researcher I spoke with on the time recommended that sodium-ion batteries won’t compete straight with lithium-ion batteries however may as an alternative discover specialised makes use of the place the chemistry made sense. Two years later, I believe we’re beginning to see what these are.
One rising phase that could possibly be an enormous win for sodium-ion: electrical micromobility autos, like scooters and three-wheelers. Since these autos are inclined to journey shorter distances at decrease speeds than vehicles, the decrease power density of sodium-ion batteries won’t be as large a deal.
There’s an incredible BBC story from final week that profiled efforts to place sodium-ion batteries in electrical scooters. It targeted on one Chinese language firm known as Yadea, which is without doubt one of the largest makers of electrical two- and three-wheelers on the earth. Yadea has introduced a handful of sodium-powered fashions to the market to this point, promoting about 1,000 of the scooters within the first three months of 2025, in accordance with the corporate’s assertion to the BBC. It’s early days, but it surely’s attention-grabbing to see this market rising.
Sodium-ion batteries are additionally seeing important progress in stationary power storage installations, together with some on the grid. (Once more, if you happen to’re not frightened about carting the battery round and becoming it into the restricted bundle of a car, power density isn’t so necessary.)
The Baochi Vitality Storage Station that simply opened in Yunnan province, China, is a hybrid system that makes use of each lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries and has a capability of 400 megawatt-hours. And Natron Vitality within the US is amongst these concentrating on different clients for stationary storage, particularly going after knowledge facilities.
Whereas smaller autos and stationary installations seem like the early wins for sodium, some corporations aren’t giving up on utilizing the choice for EVs as properly. The Chinese language battery large CATL introduced earlier this 12 months that it plans to supply sodium-ion batteries for heavy-duty vehicles beneath the model title Naxtra Battery.
In the end, lithium is the juggernaut of the battery trade, and going face to face goes to be robust for any various chemistry. However sticking with niches that make sense may assist sodium-ion make progress at a time after I’d argue we want each profitable battery kind we are able to get.
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