Sodium-Ion Batteries are being introduced by a Chinese battery company to compete with traditional batteries.

ByFaisal Chughtai | Published date:
sodium-ion-batteries-are-being-introduced-by-a-chinese-battery-company

(Image credit: catl)

Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), a Chinese battery manufacturing behemoth is known for producing after-market Tesla parts, presented its sodium-ion battery last week. According to reports, the sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery will seriously compete with standard lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

Traditional Li-ion batteries do not function well in low temperatures, and the raw ingredients required (Lithium, Cobalt, and Nickel) are costly. Sodium, on the other hand, is widely accessible and inexpensive. CATL claims that their Na-ion batteries have a 90 percent retention rate in temperatures as low as -20 °C and can be recharged in roughly 15 minutes at normal temperature.

The energy density of lithium-ion batteries (used in the Tesla Model 3) is 260 Wh/kg. CATL also stated that their Na-ion batteries had an energy density of 160 Wh/kg, which it hopes to increase to 200 Wh/kg in the future. CATL also plans to commence large-scale production of Na-ion batteries by 2023.

The radar graphic below compares CATL's Na-ion battery projection to the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery.

sodium ion batteries are being introduced by a chinese battery company

(Image credit: catl)

CATL also said that it is working on integrating Na-ion and Li-ion batteries. Robin Zeng Yuqun, the company's founder and Chairman, stated, "Sodium-ion batteries are compatible and complementary with lithium-ion batteries. Diversified technical routes are also an important guarantee for the long-term development of the industry."

Analysts, on the other hand, remain dubious about the battery. According to Zhang Xiang, an auto industry analyst, "sodium-ion batteries only have a maximum of 1,500 cycles, which is less than the 6,000 cycles offered by lithium iron phosphate technology or the 3,000 cycles of ternary lithium batteries, which means sodium-ion batteries have a much shorter life span".

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