A Swedish company called Northvolt has developed a battery-free energy storage technology that does not contain lithium, cobalt, graphite or nickel. This could help to minimize the dependency of the green energy transition on China.
There are different types of batteries use in EV’s. Here is the comparison of 2 main types Sodium-Ion Batteries vs Lithium-Ion batteries.
Sodium-ion batteries avoid the need for critical materials such as lithium
In recent months, Swedish company Northvolt has announced that it has patented a sodium-ion battery chemistry that does not require lithium or other essential minerals. It is the only battery chemistry which does not require lithium.
The mineral sodium can be found in rock salts and brines all around the world, which is one of the planet’s most abundant and geographically spread resources. As it is cheaper and more abundant than lithium, it will be less likely to be affected by resource availability issues and price volatility, thus reducing dependence on China during the transition to green energy. Each ev battery have seperate specifications. You must consider them before making decision.
Prussian White is a high-sodium cathode made from readily available materials, including sodium and iron. North Volt’s battery uses hard carbon anode and high-sodium Prussian White cathode. This battery will be the first to be manufactured using these materials.
Compared to conventional batteries made of nickel, manganese, cobalt and iron phosphate, the battery is more cost-effective and sustainable. As Northvolt points out, replacing graphite with hard carbon will reduce the battery’s carbon footprint.
With a carbon footprint of 10-20 kg per kWh, it has a smaller carbon footprint than current comparable batteries, which have a footprint of 100-150 kg per kWh.
Nonflammable sodium-ion batteries are also particularly attractive for energy storage in markets like India, the Middle East, and Africa because they are safer than alternatives at high temperatures.
A Northvolt battery is three times stronger than a lithium battery, so it can withstand three times as much heat.
Sodium-ion batteries could substantially reduce dependence on China
It is becoming increasingly common to find lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs), which are light, compact, and have a great deal of energy. While battery composition varies, the same materials are generally used.
For electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries also have different types, such as nickel-based – like lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) – or lithium iron phosphate (LFP).
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, electric vehicle sales have been increasing rapidly, compounding concerns about China’s lithium battery dominance.
China is the leading supplier of EV batteries and EV components for manufacturing, though supply chains are expanding.
From material processing to cell construction, China dominates the downstream supply chain for electric vehicles. While China accounted for only about 15% of global lithium raw material supply in 2022, approximately 60% of battery metal refining into specialist battery chemicals occurs in China. Because Beijing pushed electrification early, particularly through subsidizing electric vehicles, China produces three-quarters of all lithium-ion batteries.
Europe’s only major homegrown electric battery manufacturer, Northvolt, is backed by Volkswagen, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs.
The apparent dominance of China in the battery metal supply chain, along with export restrictions in other countries, may slow the adoption of electric vehicles.
Recent restrictions on graphite exports, the material of choice for lithium-ion batteries, have been introduced by China. The cathode, the other half of the battery, consists of lithium, nickel, and cobalt, and is not substitutable out for graphite in lithium-ion batteries. The cathode improves electrical conductivity and acts as a host for lithium ions.
Battery cell manufacturing is concentrated in China (2022)
EV manufacturers aren’t just concerned about reliance on suppliers. Batteries represent a significant portion of the total cost of an EV – typically 30% to 40% – and increase with battery size.
Battery prices (including cobalt and lithium) have increased dramatically due to rising demand for electric vehicles amid tightening supply chains. This makes consumers more wary of switching to electric vehicles.
As lithium prices have risen, battery companies have looked at alternative technologies, such as sodium-ion batteries, in order to meet EV battery demand. Raw material costs remain an important metric in the battery industry.
According to S&P Global data, sodium carbonate is consistently priced below $200 per metric tonne, with global capacity consistently exceeding demand by approximately 10 million metric tonnes per year for the last decade.
In energy storage systems, Northvolt’s sodium-ion batteries would typically be about a quarter cheaper than lithium batteries. However, falling lithium prices have now made cheaper sodium batteries less attractive.
After nearly triple doubling in price between November 2021 and November 2022, lithium carbonate, a key ingredient in most EV batteries, finally returned to normal. In recent months, lithium carbonate prices have fallen by over 80% from their peak last November, due to a subdued macroeconomic outlook, weaker demand, and excess supply.
Lithium prices are now falling, after having soared to record highs
Sodium-ion technology will continue to evolve
It is important to note that sodium-ion batteries have a relatively low energy density, which means they are bulkier and heavier than other batteries because they have a lower amount of energy stored.
Compared to the lithium batteries typically used for energy storage, where size is not a concern, Northvolt’s new battery has an energy density of 160 watt-hours per kilogram, close to that of that type of lithium battery. In the future, the Swedish group hopes to use their battery in electric vehicles, but it has been designed for electricity storage plants.
There is a clear trend toward sodium-ion batteries dominating the passenger electric vehicle market as their energy density continues to increase.
A lithium battery used in an EV typically has an energy density between 250 and 300 Watt hours per kilogram. A battery used in an energy storage system usually has a density between 180 and 200 Watt hours per kilogram.
A sodium-ion battery manufacturer like Northvolt manufactures automotive lithium-ion batteries at its gigafactory in Skelleftea, Sweden. By using the same scale-up method and manufacturing sites, sodium-ion batteries can be produced more efficiently.
There is still a long way to go before sodium-ion batteries become a success, depending on how quickly manufacturers can scale up to commercialize the new technology and incorporate it into the current manufacturing process. It is still early days for sodium-ion batteries to be mass produced.
Next year, Northvolt expects to offer samples of its sodium-ion batteries to customers, and by the end of the decade it will be producing full-scale batteries.
With CATL-Chery and BYD both announcing electric vehicles powered by sodium-ion batteries, Chinese groups are currently dominating the sodium-ion battery market. The capacity for manufacturing sodium-ion batteries in China was estimated to be 10 GWh by June 2023. The country is expected to reach 39.7 GWh in operating capacity by the end of 2023, according to EVTank.
In their sodium-ion batteries, CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, uses oxides that contain metals like nickel, cobalt, or manganese; this makes them more expensive than Northvolt’s batteries.
In conjunction with expanding capacity and improving sodium-ion technology, carmakers will continue to announce more announcements.
Diversification in battery chemistries will be key in the EV shift
As manufacturing scales up, supply chains form, and technology is updated to increase the energy density, more cars will be powered by sodium-ion batteries in the future.
Because sodium-ion batteries have lower costs, improved safety, and supply chain advantages over lithium-ion batteries, their technology is anticipated to continue to advance into mass production.
Sodium-based batteries have the potential to complement lithium-based ones, reduce dependency on a single material, and alleviate some of the pressure on lithium supply chains, even though we do not expect sodium-ion batteries to overtake lithium-ion ones in the short to medium term. There should be an acceleration of the green energy transition as a result of all of these factors.
The move to sodium-ion batteries may relieve pressure on lithium-ion battery supply, potentially at a much lower cost, if sodium-ion batteries are able to take some market share. In order for any successful EV transition to be successful, we believe that EV battery chemistries will need to be diversified.
Used Electric Vehicle Batteries
Used electric vehicle (EV) batteries, also known as second-life batteries, are batteries that have reached the end of their optimal performance in EVs but can still be repurposed for other uses. These batteries retain significant capacity, typically around 70-80%, making them suitable for energy storage solutions, backup power systems, and renewable energy integration. Recycling and repurposing used EV batteries help reduce waste, lower costs, and support sustainable energy practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are we not using sodium-ion batteries?
Sodium-ion batteries have a relatively low energy density – the amount of energy stored per unit volume – which is one of their main disadvantages. Battery weight and bulk increase as energy density decreases.
Are sodium batteries better than lithium batteries?
The sodium-ion battery has several advantages over competing battery technologies. It is typically more cost effective, has superior safety characteristics, and delivers the same power as lithium-ion batteries, but also has lower energy density.
What are the disadvantages of sodium batteries?
Another disadvantage of sodium-ion batteries is their low energy density, so they can store less energy per unit weight than other popular batteries such as lithium batteries.
What is the lifespan of a sodium ion battery?
There are a number of features that make it stand out over traditional batteries, including longer lifespans of 3,000 to 6,000 cycles, faster charging, greater resistance to below-freezing temperatures, and different energy densities of between 100 and 170 Wh/Kg.
