Needs more Salt: Sodium-ion Batteries, Powering the Future of EVs in India

As the world shifts towards renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a sustainable transportation alternative. In India, a country grappling with air pollution, EVs are set to be a game-changer. However, the success of EVs hinges on the efficiency of their power source: batteries. While lithium-ion batteries have been the go-to choice, sodium-ion batteries are now gaining attention for their potential benefits.

Sodium-ion batteries operate similarly to lithium-ion batteries. They transfer sodium ions from the cathode to the anode during charging and reverse the process during discharging. The key advantage of sodium-ion batteries lies in the abundance and affordability of sodium, making them a far more cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Much has already been written about the difficulties of procurement and extraction of Lithium.

India, with its vast coastline, has access to an inexhaustible supply of sodium in the form of sea salt. This makes sodium-ion batteries an attractive proposition for the Indian EV market. Moreover, the manufacturing process of sodium-ion batteries is similar to that of lithium-ion batteries, allowing existing manufacturing units to switch with minimal modifications. Another key advantage of sodium-ion batteries is that they exhibit excellent thermal stability and safety, crucial for India’s diverse and often extreme climatic conditions. Simply put, wider adoption of sodium-ion batteries would mean that incidents of EVs going up in flames would become rarer. More importantly, EV makers would have to place lower emphasis and? expense behind complex battery cooling solutions for their vehicles. Another key advantage of sodium-ion batteries is that they can be run down, stored and transported with Zero Charge. Most current lithium-ion batteries need some level of residual charge to avoid damage.

However, sodium-ion batteries do face some technical hurdles currently. Sodium ions are larger than lithium ions, leading to lower energy density and cycle life. The technological routes being pursued to overcome these hurdles focus on the development of hard carbon anodes and the optimization of electrolytes. Finding cathode materials that match the energy density and stability of traditional lithium battery cathodes is another challenge. Readily available and low-cost routes such as Prussian Blue are being explored as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Prussian White, the fully sodiated form of Prussian Blue, is another promising route being currently pursued.

Several Indian startups and research institutions are pioneering the development of sodium-ion batteries. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has already developed a prototype sodium-ion battery. Reliance New Energy acquired a 100% stake in Faradion, a UK-based sodium-ion battery firm. This acquisition, worth around $130 million, provides Reliance access to cutting edge sodium-ion battery technology. ?

Despite the shortcomings, several Chinese EVs are pioneering the use of sodium-ion batteries, showcasing the potential of this technology for sustainable transportation. The batteries for the BYD Seagull are manufactured by BYD itself. The Chery iCar uses sodium-ion batteries produced by CATL and JAC's Yiwei EV are manufactured by HiNa Battery. Several non-Chinese manufacturers are developing sodium-ion batteries. Northvolt, a Swedish battery manufacturer, has become the first company outside China to achieve a sodium-ion battery with 160 Wh per kg of energy density. EAS Batteries and Ionic Liquids Technologies are also developing production processes for sodium-ion cells.

In conclusion, sodium-ion batteries, with their cost-effectiveness, abundant supply, and adaptability, could play a pivotal role in powering India’s EV revolution. As research progresses, these batteries seem to be the forerunners to replace the lithium-ion cells currently popular in Indian electric vehicles, driving faster adoption of EVs with a solution that is indigenous, more cost-effective and thermally stable.

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