One researcher I spoke with on the time recommended that sodium-ion batteries may not compete instantly with lithium-ion batteries however might as a substitute 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 section that may very well be a giant win for sodium-ion: electrical micromobility autos, like scooters and three-wheelers. Since these autos are likely to journey shorter distances at decrease speeds than automobiles, the decrease power density of sodium-ion batteries may not be as massive a deal.
There’s an important BBC story from final week that profiled efforts to place sodium-ion batteries in electrical scooters. It centered on one Chinese language firm known as Yadea, which is likely 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, based on the corporate’s assertion to the BBC. It’s early days, however it’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, should you’re not nervous about carting the battery round and becoming it into the restricted package deal of a car, power density isn’t so necessary.)
The Baochi Power 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 Power within the US is amongst these concentrating on different clients for stationary storage, particularly going after information 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 nicely. 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 identify Naxtra Battery.
Finally, lithium is the juggernaut of the battery trade, and going face to face goes to be powerful for any various chemistry. However sticking with niches that make sense might assist sodium-ion make progress at a time after I’d argue we want each profitable battery sort we are able to get.
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