After China, it is the turn of a European country to reveal a sodium electric battery, cheaper and more ecological than those which currently equip our electric cars.
THE electric cars are more and more numerous, more and more easy and quick to recharge, and less and less expensive. Among the technological advances in the sector, those concerning batteries should be monitored closely. It recharges in just 5 minutes. This one promises more autonomy and reliability, for less money. Most of the time, these are products still at the concept stage, or reserved for this or that vehicle. On the other hand, one technology could well revolutionize the entire sector: sodium batteries.
The principle is simple on paper. Unlike current batteries, a sodium-ion model does not contain lithium, cobalt, nickel or graphite. These materials are rare and extracting them is becoming more and more expensive. For his part, the sodium salt is an element present in large quantities around us. By manufacturing batteries with it, we greatly reduce production costs and, mechanically, the final price of the electric car which is equipped with it.
A European country unveils its sodium battery that would make electric cars cheaper
In addition to being less expensive, a sodium-ion battery is also more efficient when it is cold And recharge faster than current models. They are also more durable. The Chinese manufacturer CTAL guarantees the operation of its vehicles for 18 years or 800,000 km. In Europe, it was Sweden which drew the first with Northvolt. The manufacturer unveils its sodium-ion battery and especially its energy capacity : 160 Wh/kg. A figure which places it at the level of LFP batteries (Lithium, Iron, Phosphate).
We can therefore hope for the imminent arrival of this battery in electric vehicles, but it will not be right away. “The first generation of Northvolt’s sodium-ion cells is designed primarily for energy storage, subsequent generations will offer higher energy density, paving the way for affordable electric mobility solutions,” explains the manufacturer. Still, the production of sodium-ion batteries in Europe is good news, especially when France wants to promote locally produced electric cars.
Source: Northvolt