On February 5, a black sedan sped down an icy road in northern China at 95 km/h when a tire burst, creating a plume of white smoke in the -32°C air. Remarkably, the vehicle coasted to a stop without hitting the snow. This demonstration aimed to showcase Changan’s new electric vehicle lineup, which includes the first mass-produced EV equipped with sodium-ion batteries, proving its endurance in severe conditions.

Changan’s Nevo AO6 model features a new generation of advanced sodium-ion batteries from leading energy storage company CATL and is slated for release later this year.

Most rechargeable batteries rely on lithium, a valuable mineral, while sodium-ion batteries utilize a more plentiful and cost-effective resource: salt. If sodium-ion technology can match the performance of lithium-based batteries at a lower cost, it could challenge lithium’s market dominance, potentially leading to a variety of battery chemistries customized for specific devices.

“This is just the beginning of the battery revolution. We will see various new batteries targeting specific segments,” says Maria Crespo-Rivadeneira from Queen Mary University of London. “Sodium is paving the way for a future beyond lithium.”

The first sodium-ion battery was developed by Ford in 1966, but serious advancements in this technology have surged in the last 15 years due to increased demand for electrification in power grids and vehicles. While both types of batteries operate on similar mechanisms, sodium-based batteries have sodium dissolved in the electrolyte instead of lithium, and they utilize differing electrode materials.

However, sodium is three times heavier than lithium; hence, a sodium-ion battery with equivalent storage capacity will weigh significantly more. This characteristic has long limited its application to grid storage and small EVs with shorter ranges.

Multiple sodium-ion grid storage facilities have been established in China, Germany, and the U.S. General Motors, the largest automobile manufacturer in America, has partnered with startup Peak Energy to expand this technology. Peak Energy provides sodium-ion batteries for data centers to store energy during cheaper electricity periods. Additionally, Eleven Energy has begun supplying household sodium-ion batteries in the UK.

Recent studies indicate that the specifications of sodium-ion batteries have progressed sufficiently for them to enter the broader EV market. A recent study by Moritz Schutte at Aachen University in Germany found Hina’s sodium-ion batteries to be comparable to Tesla’s lithium-ion batteries in most aspects, albeit still a third heavier.

CATL claims that their sodium-ion batteries achieve an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram, making them competitive with low-cost lithium iron phosphate batteries from companies like Tesla. Schutte also noted that while sodium-ion batteries currently fail to compete with lithium batteries on price, this may change as the market grows.

“Sodium-ion batteries scale rapidly,” he explains. “Production costs are continuously decreasing. Material advancements are occurring with each generation, and it’s uncertain where this will lead regarding energy density.”

Sodium also presents ecological advantages. The extraction of lithium is both energy-intensive and environmentally costly. Since China dominates lithium supply chains, geopolitical tensions, such as those involving Taiwan, could disrupt availability. Furthermore, lithium ions experience slower movement through the electrolyte at low temperatures, which can lead to diminished device performance. In contrast, sodium ions exhibit lower heat generation during electrochemical reactions, enhancing safety and stability.

CATL reported that during cold testing in northern China, their sodium-ion EV batteries retained 90% capacity at -40°C (-40°F). Even when cut in half, the batteries functioned without catching fire, continuing to supply energy to a bulb.

Elliot Richards, an EV video blogger from Shanghai, noted that sodium-ion batteries have been dubbed “lithium killers.” While lithium may remain prominent in luxury vehicles, sodium could become the go-to choice for budget-friendly EVs, vehicles optimized for extreme weather, cargo trucks, energy grids, and home energy solutions.

“We may underestimate the impact this will have on our daily lives,” he remarks. “Owning an EV will become more cost-effective than a traditional combustion vehicle, and integrating batteries in homes will be significantly cheaper, which will reduce the overall energy costs for consumers.”