Why aren’t they on the market already?

The Advanced Propulsion Center in the United Kingdom reported last year that sodium-ion (na-ion) batteries are emerging as a potential alternative to lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries in the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Advocates of na-ion batteries highlight their lower cost, environmental benefits, and reduced supply chain risks. Among key advantages of sodium-ion batteries, the APCUK named its abundance and ease to source – unlike lithium, sodium is widely available, reducing reliance on critical minerals like cobalt and nickel. This could help mitigate supply chain risks, particularly given China’s dominance in lithium processing.

Another factor is related to lower material costs: Sodium-ion battery production could be more cost-stable, making EVs more affordable over time.

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Also, sodium-ion eliminates the need for lithium and cobalt, materials associated with significant environmental and ethical concerns.

However, the product has not touched the markets yet and the existing challenges raise questions about their viability for mainstream EV adoption.

For one, there’s lower energy density – sodium-ion batteries currently store less energy than lithium-ion counterparts, limiting vehicle range and making them less practical for long-distance travel.

The charging rates are significantly slower, therefore sodium-ion batteries face performance limitations in charge and discharge speeds, a key factor in EV practicality.

Another important motive is that lithium-ion batteries have a technological head start, making them the industry standard with well-established supply chains and manufacturing processes.

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While sodium-ion batteries reduce reliance on scarce minerals, challenges remain in scaling up production. Certain materials used in sodium-ion cells, such as advanced cathodes and anodes, may still pose environmental concerns.

While sodium-ion batteries show promise, particularly for low-cost applications like two-wheelers, urban delivery vehicles, and stationary storage, for mainstream EV adoption, energy density and charging speed must improve.

Research in this area now continues under the auspices of the University of Cambridge’s Maxwell Center for Tech Innovators, which recently closed the first round of applications for its program Impulse – a mechanism to fund ideas and projects on new types of EV batteries.

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