Sodium-ion batteries (Image courtesy of Unigrid Battery)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – The Washington Post reported on November 3 that sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention as a potential challenger to lithium-ion batteries, which have dominated the rechargeable battery market for decades, offering a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative.
Also known as sodium batteries, these devices operate on principles similar to lithium-ion batteries but use more abundant and cost-effective materials. Instead of lithium, nickel, and cobalt, they employ sodium, iron, and manganese, with sodium ions replacing lithium ions in the charge-discharge cycle between electrodes.
The U.S. has seen increasing production of sodium-ion batteries in recent years. Last month, Natron Energy established a “gigafactory” in North Carolina capable of producing 24GW of batteries annually – enough to power 24,000 electric vehicles.
However, Alvaro Acosta, senior director at solar developer Lightsource BP, notes that sodium-ion battery technology remains in its early stages, with mass production yet to be achieved.
While lithium-ion batteries continue to dominate the market, they face challenges related to environmental impacts from mining and processing, as well as high costs.
In contrast, sodium-ion batteries rely on sodium, a primary component of salt that is readily available worldwide. Iron and manganese are also abundant, requiring less energy for extraction and processing, with minimal environmental impact.
The technology does face significant hurdles. Sodium is nearly three times heavier than lithium, meaning sodium-ion batteries must be larger and heavier to store the same amount of energy – a critical disadvantage for electric vehicles where efficiency is paramount.
Keith Beers, senior engineer in polymer science and materials chemistry at consulting firm Exponent, suggests that sodium batteries are unlikely to replace lithium batteries in the near future.
Professor Jens Peters of the University of Alcalá in Spain adds that while energy density might improve over time, current assessments indicate sodium batteries aren’t yet a game-changer.
Nevertheless, sodium-ion batteries have attracted interest due to their superior charging cycle durability. Wendell Brooks, co-CEO of Natron Energy, claims the company’s products can withstand millions of charging cycles, compared to the 3,000-5,000 cycles typical of lithium-ion batteries.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
