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Sodium-ion battery vs lithium-ion battery

As early as July 2021, CATL held a press conference and stated that it planned to build a sodium-ion battery industry chain in 2023 fully. With the proposal of this concept, major battery manufacturers worldwide have also launched plans to enter the sodium-ion battery industry. Plan of. According to relevant reports, by the end of 2022, there will be 23 sodium-ion battery factories worldwide, of which 18 are in China. Authoritative sources predict China’s sodium-ion battery production capacity will reach 94% of the world’s total in 2024-2025.

While the world is focusing on sodium-ion batteries, which are expected to become the core product of next-generation energy storage, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is also increasing yearly. Although sodium-ion battery technology, as a brand-new field, has been proven to be a feasible path by more and more manufacturers, as far as the current development progress is concerned, there is still a certain distance before the large-scale mass production of sodium-ion batteries. There are still many technical difficulties that need to be overcome in terms of scientific research costs and manufacturing costs. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries are still the mainstream in modern times. However, we still cannot ignore the strategic importance of sodium-ion batteries to the future energy storage market.

What are the advantages of sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries? Why should we vigorously develop sodium-ion batteries? Will sodium-ion batteries replace entirely lithium-ion batteries in the future? Today, we will discuss this issue together.

As mentioned above, China currently accounts for more than 90% of the battery factories with commercial mass production capabilities for sodium-ion batteries. Regarding the number of patents, China has obtained far more patents than other countries. As of January 2023, here were approximately 10,150 related patents in the sodium-ion battery industry worldwide, of which 5,638 patents came from China. Chinese companies led by CATL plan to use sodium-ion battery products to manufacture future new energy vehicles, which may further expand China’s current global competitive advantage in the new energy field. But at the same time, it must also be recognized that sodium-ion batteries still lack a complete raw material supply chain, and related supporting resources are still being improved.

Lithium is an essential element for the production and manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, but this mineral resource is very scarce based on the current proven global reserves. This is also the core reason why global lithium ore prices have been fluctuating frequently in recent years. Moreover, since 2021, the price of lithium ore has increased more than seven times, and the emergence of sodium-ion batteries has solved this pain point well.

According to statistics, the global reserves of sodium ore are about 300 times more than that of lithium ore, distributed worldwide. Therefore, once sodium-ion battery technology matures, it will become the mainstream of new energy. And sodium-ion batteries still have many unique advantages in terms of performance compared to lithium-ion batteries. For example, sodium-ion batteries generally charge faster than lithium-ion batteries and support larger discharge rates. This advantage makes sodium-ion batteries very suitable for EV batteries, ships, yachts, engines, motors, and other fields that will be widely demanded. With the continuous investment, it is foreseeable that in the future, the demand for sodium-ion batteries will be Higher and higher.

Sodium-ion batteries will have more powerful supply chain resources than lithium-ion batteries.

As mentioned above, the global reserves of sodium ore are more than 300 times that of lithium ore, which can effectively alleviate the energy crisis problem.

When transporting or storing batteries over long distances, lithium-ion batteries can easily cause low voltage due to self-discharge, which may eventually lead to permanent damage due to low voltage. Therefore, the remaining power must be paid attention to at all times, which has certain implications for warehouse management and daily maintenance. Require. In contrast, sodium-ion batteries do not exist.

Data shows that lithium-ion batteries have difficulty working usually at minus 20 degrees Celsius, but sodium-ion batteries can still work normally even at minus 38 degrees Celsius.

You may be wondering because sodium-ion batteries are now more expensive than lithium-ion batteries, why is there this view? That’s because the price of sodium-ion batteries is currently high due to immature technical conditions and imperfect supporting facilities.

Lithium-ion batteries faced the same problems as sodium-ion batteries when they first came out. At that time, people discovered that the cycle life of lithium batteries was much higher than lead-acid batteries. However, they were still hesitant about the price, which made it difficult to enter the market at the beginning. However, with the breakthroughs in various technologies and the improvement of the industrial chain in recent years, the cost of lithium-ion batteries today has been much lower than in the past.

Theoretically, sodium-ion batteries are well developed, and their manufacturing costs can be 55%-70% of those of lithium-ion batteries. The reasons for the reduction mainly include the reduction of electrolyte cost (sodium-ion batteries can use lower concentration electrolytes), which can also be reduced through current collectors. Aluminum is the current collector of sodium-ion batteries (sodium ions cannot be used because they will react).

Therefore, people can use ROI to measure the input-output ratio of a project. In most cases, in some medium-sized and large-scale projects, our use of lithium battery energy storage solutions can pay back within 4-10 years after the project is invested. In theory, as long as the time is long enough, the ROI can continue to increase. The emergence of sodium-ion batteries, due to the reduction in manufacturing costs and the increase in cycle times, will further increase the product’s return on investment.

Under the same conditions, after 1,000 cycles of lithium-ion batteries, the capacity is approximately 80% of the design capacity. But sodium-ion batteries can reach more than 94.8% of their design capacity after 1,000 cycles.

Since the sodium-ion battery manufacturing process uses non-toxic and harmless materials, it will not cause pollution or harm the environment.

  • Lower energy density:
    Although the energy density of sodium-ion batteries can theoretically reach 200wh/kg, the actual energy density is about 120wh/kg. But now, the energy density of lithium iron phosphate batteries can reach 160wh/kg, and the energy density of ternary lithium-ion batteries can already reach more than 200wh/kg.
  • Internal resistance is high:
    The energy loss during charging and discharging is greater than that of lithium-ion batteries
  • Slightly heavier:
    Since the internal materials and design of sodium-ion batteries are more complex and have specific thickness requirements, they are slightly heavier.
  • The current cost is too high:
    Since the global research on sodium-ion batteries has just started, however, many companies have produced their sodium-ion battery products, and the production costs are generally higher than the same model of lithium-ion batteries. However, I believe this problem is only temporary and will gradually improve with the development of science and technology in the future.

Won’t. In some application scenarios that require high energy density, lithium-ion batteries are still needed. But sodium-ion batteries can replace sodium-ion batteries in some application scenarios, such as home energy storage or low-speed vehicles.

In the future, sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries will complement each other to provide options for the market. It is as if lead-acid batteries did not lose their market due to the emergence of lithium-ion batteries. On the contrary, even today, lead-acid batteries still have advantages that cannot be ignored in certain application scenarios.

Summarize:

As the next generation of energy storage products, sodium-ion batteries have many advantages. They can replace the dominance of lithium-ion batteries in some fields and are more in line with market demand. However, the current supply chain is imperfect, and product research and development is not mature enough. Although companies led by CATL have developed first-generation sodium-ion battery products, there is still much room for improvement in product cost, design energy density, and lifespan. However, in the future, sodium-ion batteries will be as widely popular as today’s lithium-ion batteries and be used in various necessary fields. We should continue to pay attention.

Author Profile

Thomas Chen

Thomas Chen is a seasoned expert in the new energy industry, with a focus on lithium battery technology. A Shenzhen University alumnus, class of 2010, Thomas has cultivated a wealth of experience through pivotal roles at EVE and BYD. Renowned for his profound insights into the sector, he possesses a unique aptitude for identifying market trends and understanding customer needs. His articles offer a distinctive perspective, drawn from a rich background in the field.

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As early as July 2021, CATL held a press conference and stated that it planned to build a sodium-ion battery industry chain in 2023 fully. With the proposal of this concept, major battery manufacturers worldwide have also launched plans to enter the sodium-ion battery industry. Plan of. According to relevant reports, by the end of 2022, there will be 23 sodium-ion battery factories worldwide, of which 18 are in China. Authoritative sources predict China’s sodium-ion battery production capacity will reach 94% of the world’s total in 2024-2025.

While the world is focusing on sodium-ion batteries, which are expected to become the core product of next-generation energy storage, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is also increasing yearly. Although sodium-ion battery technology, as a brand-new field, has been proven to be a feasible path by more and more manufacturers, as far as the current development progress is concerned, there is still a certain distance before the large-scale mass production of sodium-ion batteries. There are still many technical difficulties that need to be overcome in terms of scientific research costs and manufacturing costs. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries are still the mainstream in modern times. However, we still cannot ignore the strategic importance of sodium-ion batteries to the future energy storage market.

What are the advantages of sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries? Why should we vigorously develop sodium-ion batteries? Will sodium-ion batteries replace entirely lithium-ion batteries in the future? Today, we will discuss this issue together.

As mentioned above, China currently accounts for more than 90% of the battery factories with commercial mass production capabilities for sodium-ion batteries. Regarding the number of patents, China has obtained far more patents than other countries. As of January 2023, here were approximately 10,150 related patents in the sodium-ion battery industry worldwide, of which 5,638 patents came from China. Chinese companies led by CATL plan to use sodium-ion battery products to manufacture future new energy vehicles, which may further expand China’s current global competitive advantage in the new energy field. But at the same time, it must also be recognized that sodium-ion batteries still lack a complete raw material supply chain, and related supporting resources are still being improved.

Lithium is an essential element for the production and manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, but this mineral resource is very scarce based on the current proven global reserves. This is also the core reason why global lithium ore prices have been fluctuating frequently in recent years. Moreover, since 2021, the price of lithium ore has increased more than seven times, and the emergence of sodium-ion batteries has solved this pain point well.

According to statistics, the global reserves of sodium ore are about 300 times more than that of lithium ore, distributed worldwide. Therefore, once sodium-ion battery technology matures, it will become the mainstream of new energy. And sodium-ion batteries still have many unique advantages in terms of performance compared to lithium-ion batteries. For example, sodium-ion batteries generally charge faster than lithium-ion batteries and support larger discharge rates. This advantage makes sodium-ion batteries very suitable for EV batteries, ships, yachts, engines, motors, and other fields that will be widely demanded. With the continuous investment, it is foreseeable that in the future, the demand for sodium-ion batteries will be Higher and higher.

Sodium-ion batteries will have more powerful supply chain resources than lithium-ion batteries.

As mentioned above, the global reserves of sodium ore are more than 300 times that of lithium ore, which can effectively alleviate the energy crisis problem.

When transporting or storing batteries over long distances, lithium-ion batteries can easily cause low voltage due to self-discharge, which may eventually lead to permanent damage due to low voltage. Therefore, the remaining power must be paid attention to at all times, which has certain implications for warehouse management and daily maintenance. Require. In contrast, sodium-ion batteries do not exist.

Data shows that lithium-ion batteries have difficulty working usually at minus 20 degrees Celsius, but sodium-ion batteries can still work normally even at minus 38 degrees Celsius.

You may be wondering because sodium-ion batteries are now more expensive than lithium-ion batteries, why is there this view? That’s because the price of sodium-ion batteries is currently high due to immature technical conditions and imperfect supporting facilities.

Lithium-ion batteries faced the same problems as sodium-ion batteries when they first came out. At that time, people discovered that the cycle life of lithium batteries was much higher than lead-acid batteries. However, they were still hesitant about the price, which made it difficult to enter the market at the beginning. However, with the breakthroughs in various technologies and the improvement of the industrial chain in recent years, the cost of lithium-ion batteries today has been much lower than in the past.

Theoretically, sodium-ion batteries are well developed, and their manufacturing costs can be 55%-70% of those of lithium-ion batteries. The reasons for the reduction mainly include the reduction of electrolyte cost (sodium-ion batteries can use lower concentration electrolytes), which can also be reduced through current collectors. Aluminum is the current collector of sodium-ion batteries (sodium ions cannot be used because they will react).

Therefore, people can use ROI to measure the input-output ratio of a project. In most cases, in some medium-sized and large-scale projects, our use of lithium battery energy storage solutions can pay back within 4-10 years after the project is invested. In theory, as long as the time is long enough, the ROI can continue to increase. The emergence of sodium-ion batteries, due to the reduction in manufacturing costs and the increase in cycle times, will further increase the product’s return on investment.

Under the same conditions, after 1,000 cycles of lithium-ion batteries, the capacity is approximately 80% of the design capacity. But sodium-ion batteries can reach more than 94.8% of their design capacity after 1,000 cycles.

Since the sodium-ion battery manufacturing process uses non-toxic and harmless materials, it will not cause pollution or harm the environment.

  • Lower energy density:
    Although the energy density of sodium-ion batteries can theoretically reach 200wh/kg, the actual energy density is about 120wh/kg. But now, the energy density of lithium iron phosphate batteries can reach 160wh/kg, and the energy density of ternary lithium-ion batteries can already reach more than 200wh/kg.
  • Internal resistance is high:
    The energy loss during charging and discharging is greater than that of lithium-ion batteries
  • Slightly heavier:
    Since the internal materials and design of sodium-ion batteries are more complex and have specific thickness requirements, they are slightly heavier.
  • The current cost is too high:
    Since the global research on sodium-ion batteries has just started, however, many companies have produced their sodium-ion battery products, and the production costs are generally higher than the same model of lithium-ion batteries. However, I believe this problem is only temporary and will gradually improve with the development of science and technology in the future.

Won’t. In some application scenarios that require high energy density, lithium-ion batteries are still needed. But sodium-ion batteries can replace sodium-ion batteries in some application scenarios, such as home energy storage or low-speed vehicles.

In the future, sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries will complement each other to provide options for the market. It is as if lead-acid batteries did not lose their market due to the emergence of lithium-ion batteries. On the contrary, even today, lead-acid batteries still have advantages that cannot be ignored in certain application scenarios.

Summarize:

As the next generation of energy storage products, sodium-ion batteries have many advantages. They can replace the dominance of lithium-ion batteries in some fields and are more in line with market demand. However, the current supply chain is imperfect, and product research and development is not mature enough. Although companies led by CATL have developed first-generation sodium-ion battery products, there is still much room for improvement in product cost, design energy density, and lifespan. However, in the future, sodium-ion batteries will be as widely popular as today’s lithium-ion batteries and be used in various necessary fields. We should continue to pay attention.

Author Profile

Thomas Chen

Thomas Chen is a seasoned expert in the new energy industry, with a focus on lithium battery technology. A Shenzhen University alumnus, class of 2010, Thomas has cultivated a wealth of experience through pivotal roles at EVE and BYD. Renowned for his profound insights into the sector, he possesses a unique aptitude for identifying market trends and understanding customer needs. His articles offer a distinctive perspective, drawn from a rich background in the field.

Leave the first comment

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