The race to develop affordable sodium-ion batteries as a viable alternative to lithium-ion cells in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems is intensifying. This push mirrors the rapid research and development efforts that made lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries a dominant choice in the last decade.
LFP batteries, which avoid the expensive materials like nickel and cobalt, have seen significant price drops, making them more affordable. Their energy density has also improved, and they now perform better in colder temperatures. These advancements have made LFP the preferred chemistry for many mass-market EVs and energy storage solutions, including portable power stations such as the Anker Solix series, which retail for under $1,000 on Amazon.
A similar trend is unfolding with sodium-ion batteries. Sodium is much cheaper than lithium—50 times less expensive—and can be extracted from seawater, making it both affordable and abundant. After more than a decade of research, sodium-ion technology is now reaching commercial viability. Electric cars and grid-level energy storage systems using sodium-ion batteries are beginning to hit the market, with leading battery manufacturers like CATL and BYD increasing their focus on sodium-ion production, despite the recent decline in lithium prices.
One of the key challenges for sodium-ion batteries has been their lower energy density. However, this is gradually improving thanks to advancements in research. A significant breakthrough came from scientists at the University of Houston and several French universities, who discovered a sodium vanadium phosphate compound (NaxV₂(PO₄)₃). This compound boosts the energy density of sodium-ion batteries, raising it from the current 396 Wh/kg to 458 Wh/kg, bringing it closer to the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.
The use of vanadium in the compound also improves battery stability during rapid charging and discharging, while increasing the voltage to 3.7 V, higher than that of typical sodium-ion cells. Researchers say that the continuous voltage change in these batteries enhances energy efficiency without compromising the stability of the electrodes. They believe this breakthrough could be a game-changer for the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries and that their proprietary process could be applied to other materials in the future.
Related topics:
- EU’s Charger Directive Forces Apple to Discontinue Older iPhones
- Fastned Proposes New Rapid Charging Facility in North Yorkshire
- Ufine Battery Unveils Groundbreaking Energy Solutions at CES 2025
