EV/Lithium, page-593

News Flash from the SMM: While in China some battery companies are planning to substitute #LFP for #sodium-ion batteries 1st for energy storage & eventually for EVs, in the US most new gigafactories being deployed are still betting on LFP both for EVs & energy storage.

https://x.com/jczuleta/status/1803561272467698172


...yes, BYD did not invest $1.4Bil into a sodium-ion EV battery plant without intent to use the technology in its products. BYD plans to deploy sodium-ion batteries (which has no lithium) in its smaller range models
...the way I see it is that 1) BYD is hinging on sodium-ion to loosen lithium's grip and 'ransom' on the EV industry  and 2) smaller EVs would increasingly make up a bigger proportion of EV sales due to affordability issues.

...so perhaps in 2 years, when you read that EV growth is high, don't be surprised that a larger % of them could be made up of smaller EVs running on sodium-ion batteries, which could explain lithium price staying lower for longer.

...market observers point out that sodium-ion batteries would be more of a threat if only lithium price goes higher, otherwise it would be less viable. But BYD is both the sodium-ion battery maker as well as the No.1 global EV maker, it can choose to use its sodium-ion batteries along with its LFP batteries. BYD does not need to opt for lithium batteries if lithium price stays low, the fact that they have invested billion in dollars must only mean they have plans to deploy them, and that would only eat lithium's share of future consumption in EV batteries.  
BYD breaks ground on its first sodium-ion EV battery plant

Peter Johnson | Jan 5 2024 - 11:41 am PT

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)