Powering EVs with sodium-ion batteries seems to get closer to reality in China. Local carmaker SOL and battery manufacturer Hina Battery Technology unveiled a test vehicle equipped with sodium-ion batteries on February 23. The car came with a driving range of 252 kilometers.
The two companies demonstrated the vehicle at a national forum about sodium batteries in Jiangsu. According to multiple news reports, the new battery technology is installed on SOL's E10X model. The sodium-ion battery pack holds a capacity of 25kWh, with the cell's energy density reaching 140Wh/kg. Fast-charging time takes 15 to 20 minutes.
SOL, established in 2018, is owned by Volkswagen (AnHui) Automotive Company. In a WeChat post, SOL said sodium-ion batteries boast cost, safety and fast-charging advantages. As lithium prices surge, looking for alternative battery technology has been a priority for battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs.
SOL said sodium-ion battery application will likely start with the A00-class EV like the E10X. That is why the company chose the model to test the technology. Mid and large-sized EVs can also use sodium-ion batteries when performance reaches the next level.
Hina Battery said the sodium-ion battery it offers to E10X has long life cycles and high power. The product also functions under a wide range of temperatures.
Founded in 2017, the company initially focuses on R&D and manufacturing sodium-ion batteries for energy storage systems (ESS). Last year, it set up production lines of cathode and anode materials in Shanxi and cell production lines in Anhui.
The sodium-ion batteries developed by Hina Battery. Credit: SOL
Hina Battery is not the only company accelerating the new technology's application in EVs. Leading battery maker CATL announced its first-generation sodium-ion products in 2021 with an energy density of 160 Wh/kg. BYD is also reportedly developing similar batteries.
Whether sodium products will become a threat to their lithium counterparts remains to be seen. China-based Securities Daily reported that the lower energy density will limit sodium-ion battery applications, according to industry sources. Two-wheelers and ESSs have adopted the technology.
Zheshang Securities said China will likely see a production boost for sodium-ion batteries in 2023 as battery companies like CATL and Farasis Energy have projects to commercialize the technology. The security company also said the planned sodium-ion battery production capacity in China achieved 48GWh at the end of 2022.
While alternative battery technologies try to secure a foothold in the market, lithium-ion batteries continue to grow in leadership. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released data regarding the lithium battery industry on Thursday. The country saw production grow by over 130% in 2022 and the output value surpassed CNY1.2 trillion (US$173.3 billion).
The agency said the lithium-ion battery installation for EVs was about 295GWh last year. Besides EVs, ESS also significantly helped the technology's adoption.
