...even if one dismisses the near term replacement of lithium batteries with an alternate technology such as sodium-ion batteries that do not use lithium, one undeniable fact is that battery chemical technology is ever evolving, BYD has already invested US$1.4B in a new sodium-ion battery facility, no company would invest that much without seeing a great opportunity to use it, and it is clear that sodium-ion batteries are a cheaper alternative that could be further improved to rival lithium based batteries.
...so while lithium prices stay in the doldrums over the next few years, by the end of that winter period, and lithium prices do rise from the ashes, BYD could easily switch to greater usage of sodium ion batteries instead,....and quite likely EU would follow suit to compete on cost and for the lack of viable lithium projects in Europe.
...this is why I have said Lithium is Not Iron Ore. We have no comparative advantage vis-a-vis other countries in the lithium space-
1. Higher comparative costs- Capex and Opex and higher cost of doing business in Australia as well as higher logistical costs
2. No domestic consumers - most if not all of our lithium would need to be exported as we do not have a domestic EV producing industry
3. All EV producing countries prefer to have their own secured domestic sources of critical minerals like lithium, so over time when they developed their own, they won't need ours as much
4. Only long term customer is Japan/Korea because they don't have their own domestic supply. But their market share would be under threat over time.
Goodbye lithium? New sodium-ion batteries promise cheaper, greener energy
Lithium-ion batteries power most of our devices and electric cars, but they come with challenges. Lithium is expensive, hard to source, and limited in supply.
This could cause problems as demand grows. To tackle this, scientists worldwide are looking for alternative battery technologies that are cheaper and more sustainable.
A breakthrough has been made by an international team of researchers, including the Canepa Research Laboratory at the University of Houston.
They have developed a new material for sodium-ion batteries, a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
The findings, published in Nature Materials, show how this new material could make batteries more efficient and boost energy performance.
The material, called sodium vanadium phosphate (NaxV2(PO4)3), improves sodium-ion batteries by increasing their energy density—the amount of energy stored per kilogram—by more than 15%.
Traditional sodium-ion batteries can store 396 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). This new material raises that to 458 Wh/kg, bringing sodium technology closer to lithium-ion batteries in performance.
Sodium is much cheaper than lithium—nearly 50 times less expensive—and can even be harvested from seawater.
“Sodium-ion batteries could be cheaper and easier to produce, reducing reliance on lithium and making batteries more accessible worldwide,” said Pieremanuele Canepa, a professor at the University of Houston and lead researcher of the Canepa Lab.
The research team created a prototype battery using the new material. Unlike older materials, NaxV2(PO4)3 allows sodium ions to move smoothly in and out of the battery during charging and discharging.
This material, part of a group called “Na superionic conductors” or NaSICONs, stays stable and efficient as it stores and releases energy.
The new material also delivers a steady voltage of 3.7 volts compared to 3.37 volts in older sodium-ion batteries. While this difference seems small, it significantly boosts energy storage. The key is vanadium, a component of the material, which can store and release more energy efficiently.
This development could lead to more sustainable, affordable energy solutions. Sodium-ion batteries using this material could meet the energy demands of modern technology while being eco-friendly and cost-effective. The same method used to create this material could also help develop other advanced energy storage technologies.
“Our goal is to find clean, sustainable energy solutions,” said Canepa. “This material proves sodium-ion batteries can power the future while being affordable and kind to the planet.”
Researchers hope this innovation will support the shift toward a cleaner energy economy, making sustainable energy more accessible to everyone. Source: KSR
The world’s largest EV maker, BYD, broke ground on its first sodium-ion battery plant this week. BYD is investing $1.4 billion (RMB 10 billion) with 30 GWh planned annual capacity.
You likely heard that BYD just topped Tesla in overall EV volume to become the largest electric car maker globally. However, BYD is also a top global battery manufacturer.
Although lithium-ion is currently the primary battery in vehicles, companies are developing new chemistries to unlock lower prices, more range, faster charging, and less raw material use.
BYD’s Blade Battery powers other automakers’ EVs, including Tesla, Hyundai, Toyota, and Ford, to name a few. The Blade Battery is an LFP battery designed and built by BYD’s FinDreams.
FinDreams began building BYD’s Blade Battery in 2020. Last June, the unit created its own joint venture with Huaihai Holding Group to expand into sodium-ion batteries.
The company aims to be the world’s largest supplier of sodium battery systems. Huaihai said it began exploring sodium batteries years ago after seeing their economic value.
BYD Dolphin EV (Source: BYD) BYD begins building first sodium-ion battery plant
Sodium-ion batteries offer a cheaper alternative to lithium but have a lower energy density. The batteries are most useful in low-cost small cars or two-wheelers that don’t need the higher energy density.
FinDreams and Huaihai agreed to build the first BYD sodium-ion battery plant in Xuzhou in November.
BYD Atto 3 (Source: BYD)
The plant is not the first collaboration between the companies. BYD and Huaihai partnered a year earlier, in November 2022, to build a plant for Blade battery production. Construction began last January, and early production is planned for March.
Rumors surfaced in 2022 that BYD would begin sodium-ion battery production in 2023, with the Seagull being the first EV to receive the new tech. However, BYD’s Seagull was launched in April with an LFP Blade Battery.
YiWei sodium-ion battery-powered EV (Source: JAC Motors SA) .
