The world's largest automotive market recently welcomed two sodium-ion-battery-powered EVs. Both cars offer a driving range of about 250 kilometers. Whether the vehicles can become alternatives for lithium-battery EVs is worth the attention.
On December 28, 2023, China-based battery maker Farasis Energy saw a vehicle equipped with its sodium-ion batteries being rolled off the production line of JMEV, an EV brand of Chinese Jiangling Motors Group.
According to Farasis, the compact JMEV EV3 can enable a driving range of 251 kilometers, fulfilling the need for commuting and cross-city travel. The company said its mass-produced sodium-ion batteries have an energy density between 140Wh/kg and 160Wh/kg. The battery technology has a discharge capacity retention of more than 91% and can support passenger EVs and electric two-wheelers.
Farasis said it plans to release the second generation of its sodium-ion batteries in 2024 and bring the energy density to between 160Wh/kg and 180Wh/kg. In 2026, the density will be upgraded to between 180Wh/kg and 200Wh/kg to satisfy more applications.
The company said it has worked on joint sodium battery projects with customers focusing on passenger EVs, two-wheelers, battery-swapping, and energy storage systems.
Another EV powered by sodium-ion batteries was rolled off the production line in China on December 27, 2023. The vehicle was made by Yiwei, a brand of JAC Group, and uses batteries from Hina Battery.
Hina said the EV is equipped with the company's cylindrical sodium-ion cells that can support a driving range of 252 kilometers. The car will start deliveries in January 2024. Hina said its sodium batteries have been applied to electric bikes and energy storage power stations.
China-based The Paper reported that the lithium price rise in 2022 prompted leading battery companies like CATL and Eve Energy to launch their sodium-ion battery technology. According to an announcement from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in June 2023, Chery Automobile plans to launch an EV with CATL's sodium-ion batteries.
The Paper reported that China imports about 70% of its lithium each year. The high-priced lithium can significantly burden the battery and EV industry. In contrast, sodium-ion battery costs will decrease tremendously after entering volume production. Sodium-ion batteries also have superior discharge capabilities than lithium counterparts.
However, the lithium carbonate price slump in 2023 lowered the costs of lithium battery cells rapidly. Whether sodium-ion batteries will see further adoption in 2024 still needs to be determined.
