Accelerating the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries: What are the advantages compared with lithium-ion batteries?

Given the limited and expensive availability of battery-grade lithium and other advanced battery materials, alternative battery chemistries are being investigated. Some other types of batteries, such as sodium-ion batteries, are being initially commercialized. Sodium-ion batteries have the potential to become a viable option in many battery applications in the near future.

Sodium-ion battery technology reaches commercial production

CATL, one of the world's largest lithium battery manufacturers based in Ningde, China, has started commercial production of sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, which will be used in passenger electric vehicles. This may herald sodium-ion chemistry to replace lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries in certain battery applications, bringing early market entry and growth potential.

Chemical Element Comparison: Sodium vs. Lithium

Abundance

Sodium (Na) is the fifth most abundant element on Earth, accounting for 3% of its mass, and its natural abundance is significantly higher than that of lithium (Li), indicating its potential importance in battery production. The concentration of sodium in the crust is 1,180 times that of lithium, and in the ocean, the concentration of sodium is 60,000 times that of lithium. The following table lists these significant differences in usability:

Cost

An important advantage of sodium is cost. A simple comparison of prices on the Shanghai metal market reveals a 20-fold price difference between pure sodium and lithium compounds (June 2023): sodium carbonate costs approximately $290 per ton. The price of lithium carbonate (99.5% battery grade) is much higher at about $35,000 per ton (even though prices have fallen significantly since mid-July 2022).

Advantages of sodium-ion battery packs

Sustainability

The abundant sodium (Na) content in the world's oceans provides a unique opportunity for large-scale sodium extraction using existing technologies. Currently, extraction of brine on land is a common method, followed by evaporation of the water, chemical separation of the sodium-containing salts, and chemical recovery of the sodium. However, future advancements could replace this method with desalination, providing clean drinking water as a byproduct of sodium extraction. Further developments in the technology, such as cathode-free sodium metal batteries, could help reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption during battery manufacturing and recycling.

Reduce battery pack costs

The specific price of sodium-ion battery packs is currently low, and it is expected that the price will fall as production increases and technology further advances. Unlike lithium, there are no foreseeable shortages of the sodium raw material.

Gigafactory quickly retrofitted to produce sodium-ion batteries

The "Sodium-ion Battery 2023-2033 Report" believes that sodium-ion batteries are an alternative technology to the current lithium-ion battery production lines. This means that if sodium-ion batteries do start to replace lithium batteries in some applications, manufacturers could quickly switch to the new chemistry.

Sodium-ion batteries for material handling equipment (MHE)

Material handling equipment has specific requirements due to the specific nature of its application:

lIndustrial equipment has high utilization rate, with working hours of up to 18 hours a day and short rest periods. Automated equipment such as AMRs and AGVs work longer hours each day.

lChargers are typically located within operating facilities and there is no "range anxiety" because batteries can be charged frequently and quickly during scheduled and random breaks.

lHarsh industrial environments require equipment to withstand extreme temperatures, vibration and moisture.

Given these special requirements, MHEs require lower battery specific energy (Wh/kg) but higher specific power (W/kg) compared to passenger electric vehicles. If sodium-ion technologies can meet the challenge of delivering higher power and durability, they could have a promising future in the heavy-duty vehicle industry.

Active sodium-ion battery manufacturers

According to the International Energy Agency's "Global Electric Vehicle Outlook 2023", there are currently nearly 30 sodium-ion battery production plants in operation, planning or construction, with a total production capacity of more than 100GWh, almost all of which are located in China. Here are a few major companies making significant progress in the development and commercialization of sodium-ion batteries: CATL, BYD, Tiamat, Faradion, Natron Energy.