Exploring 7 Key Applications of Sodium-Ion Batteries: Breakthroughs from Two-Wheelers to Energy Storage

Overview of 7 Major Applications of Sodium-Ion Batteries: Breakthroughs from Two-Wheelers to Energy Storage

Driven by global energy transformation and carbon neutrality goals, sodium-ion batteries are experiencing unprecedented development opportunities due to their unique resource advantages and technological features. Compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries boast significant advantages, including abundant raw material reserves (sodium content in the Earth’s crust is over 1,000 times that of lithium), lower costs (theoretical material costs can be reduced by 30% to 50%), and enhanced safety (lower risk of thermal runaway).

In recent years, breakthroughs in key technologies such as anode and cathode materials and electrolytes have continuously improved the performance of sodium-ion batteries. Their energy density has surpassed 160 Wh/kg, and their cycle life exceeds 3,000 times, showcasing strong commercial potential in fields like energy storage, low-speed electric vehicles, and backup power supplies. This article systematically reviews typical application cases of sodium-ion batteries across various domains, including energy storage, electric two-wheelers, and consumer electronics, providing a comprehensive display of technological advancements and market prospects to serve as a reference for industry stakeholders.

Summary of Sodium-Ion Battery Application Cases

According to incomplete statistics from Battery Trading Network, there are currently six brands that feature sodium-ion battery cells, primarily focusing on electric two-wheelers or vehicles: Aima, Bluetti, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Elecom, JAC Group, and Yadea. Below is a detailed look at these products, listed in alphabetical order by brand.

Aima

Aima’s Aike model was launched on April 2 at the 2024 Gaogong Sodium Battery Industry Summit. The chairman and general manager of Zhongna Energy, Xia Gang, delivered a keynote on “Product Renewal and Upgrades, Leading Scale Delivery.” The new sodium-powered models, including the Aima Aike and New Day Liyue DQ5, were simultaneously unveiled in Suzhou, Zhenjiang, Taizhou, and Xuancheng.

The JuNa 1 battery uses an NFS-A1 soft pack cell, with a capacity of 48V 24Ah and over 1,500 cycles. Its operational temperature range spans from -20°C to 55°C. Compared to traditional lead-acid batteries, this product achieves breakthrough improvements across multiple dimensions: its normal temperature cycle life is over three times that of lead-acid batteries; at -20°C, its capacity retention exceeds 85%, which is 1.5 times that of lead-acid batteries; it supports 2C fast charging, reaching 90% capacity in just 30 minutes, a fivefold increase in charging efficiency; and it has an energy density of 122 Wh/kg, three times that of lead-acid batteries. Environmentally, the product is free from copper, nickel, vanadium, and other precious metals and has passed rigorous safety tests for overcharging, discharging, puncturing, and crushing, ensuring it does not smoke, catch fire, or explode during use.

Bluetti

Bluetti’s NA300 solar energy storage product was unveiled at CES 2022. It marks the world’s first home solar energy storage solution powered by sodium-ion batteries. The NA300 generator is based on the company’s newly developed sodium battery technology and is compatible with the B480 battery pack. This sodium-ion battery offers safety features that far exceed those of lithium-ion batteries, ensuring it does not catch fire or explode under extreme conditions and is more durable and environmentally friendly. The NA300 is designed for a 12-year lifespan and includes Bluetti’s custom-designed sodium-ion battery management system (BMS), enhancing the battery’s life to 10,000 cycles, even in temperatures as low as -25°C.

Chinese Academy of Sciences

In celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the first sodium-ion battery low-speed electric vehicle was demonstrated on the campus. This vehicle was launched by Zhongke Haina Technology Co., a company established based on sodium-ion battery technology from the Academy. Low-speed electric vehicles, often referred to as “national cars,” have significant market demand in third- and fourth-tier cities, rural areas, and developing countries. The Chinese government has included low-speed electric vehicles in the category of new energy vehicles, indicating a golden opportunity for market development. Currently, over 90% of these vehicles rely on lead-acid batteries, which, while cost-effective, typically last only 1 to 2 years and pose environmental pollution issues. The development of more environmentally friendly and better-performing battery technologies is essential for the sustainable growth of low-speed electric vehicles.

Elecom

Elecom’s DE-C55L-9000 series power bank has a capacity of 9,000mAh and supports USB Power Delivery (USB PD) and Programmable Power Supply (PPS) charging technologies. Its USB Type-C port provides up to 45W of output power and can automatically adjust voltage and current based on the connected device. This power bank is suitable for smartphones like the iPhone and tablets like the iPad, as well as laptops. According to Elecom, this sodium-ion power bank offers several unique advantages. It uses sodium-ion batteries that are more environmentally and human-friendly compared to traditional power banks that utilize cobalt and lithium, addressing the human rights and environmental issues associated with the mining of these metals. It also helps stabilize supply chains, ensuring sustainable resource utilization while significantly reducing potential impacts on the environment and human health.

Additionally, this mobile power bank boasts a wide range of environmental adaptability, functioning seamlessly in extreme conditions from -35°C to 50°C. Its safety performance is also noteworthy; unlike typical lithium-ion batteries that may catch fire when damaged, sodium-ion batteries are less likely to experience thermal runaway, providing users with greater peace of mind. Furthermore, the product meets Japan’s Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (PSE) standards, featuring Thermal Protection that monitors and controls temperature rise 24/7, along with five protection functions against overcharging, discharging, overcurrent, short circuits, and temperature detection.

Moreover, the sodium-ion power bank offers an exceptionally long lifespan. While typical lithium-ion batteries have a cycle life of about 500 times, this product’s sodium-ion battery provides around 5,000 cycles, ten times longer, making it more economical for long-term use. For example, a fully charged power bank with a capacity of 9,000mAh can charge an 1,800mAh smartphone approximately 2.9 times or a 3,000mAh smartphone about 1.7 times, adequately meeting daily usage needs.

JAC Group

On January 5, 2024, JAC Group officially delivered the world’s first sodium-ion battery vehicle, the Sodium Edition Huaxianzi, to users in Anqing, Anhui. This vehicle is equipped with 32140 cylindrical sodium-ion cells supplied by Zhongke Haina, with a battery capacity of 23.2 kWh and a CLTC range of 230 km, achieving nearly 10 kWh of energy consumption per 100 km. JAC Ywei is a new brand established after the mixed reform of JAC Group’s new energy passenger vehicle sector, playing a central role in the group’s strategic transition to new energy. The sodium edition Huaxianzi utilizes 32140 cylindrical sodium-ion cells with a single capacity of 12Ah and an energy density of ≥140 Wh/kg, employing a technology pathway of copper-based layered oxides plus hard carbon. The new vehicle also features a honeycomb battery safety structure, with a total battery pack capacity of 23.2 kWh, achieving a CLTC range of 230 km and an energy consumption of nearly 10 kWh per 100 km. Fast charging performance allows for a SOC of 10%-80% in just 20 minutes and SOC of 30%-80% in 15 minutes. JAC Ywei plans to launch a sodium-ion model with a range of 300 km in the second half of the year to promote the industrialization of sodium batteries and facilitate the popularization of electric vehicles.

Yadea

On March 17, the “Sodium Leads the Future 2023 Yadea-Hua Yu Sodium Battery Launch Conference” was held in Hangzhou. Yadea Technology Group, in collaboration with its subsidiary Hua Yu New Energy Technology Company, announced the establishment of a new company focused on sodium-ion batteries—Hua Yu Sodium Battery—and unveiled its first-generation sodium-ion battery, “Extreme Sodium 1,” along with its corresponding electric vehicle, the Yadea Extreme Sodium S9. The popularity of sodium-ion batteries has surged in recent years, and market applications are beginning to emerge. Due to the unique material characteristics of sodium-ion batteries, they are expected to offer greater cost advantages and better low-temperature performance, making them ideal for applications in energy storage, base stations, power tools, low-speed electric vehicles, and electric bicycles as a supplement or alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

From this launch event, it is evident that the performance of Hua Yu Sodium Battery meets the needs of the two-wheeled electric vehicle market. The “Extreme Sodium 1” boasts an energy density exceeding 145 Wh/kg and can maintain 85% capacity in environments as low as -40°C. Representatives at the event noted that the “Extreme Sodium 1” has passed various tests, including puncture, immersion, and long-range tests and is awaiting mass production. Just entering 2025, Yadea released four sodium battery electric vehicles: the Yadea Guanneng Q50 sodium version priced at 4,299 yuan, the Yadea Q1 sodium version at 3,299 yuan, the Yadea DE3 sodium version at 3,499 yuan, and the Yadea G30lite sodium version at 3,699 yuan. All four models are equipped with 48V 24Ah sodium batteries, claiming a range of 120 km, easily surpassing 100 km in 2025.

The sodium battery electric vehicles from Yadea utilize the Extreme Sodium battery, which supports high-rate discharging and charging from 1.5C to 3C. This allows for quick recharging, reducing wait times; for instance, it takes only 15 minutes to charge to 80%, enabling a range of 100 km in that time. Furthermore, these sodium batteries are compatible with standard 220V household voltage, eliminating the need for additional charging equipment—charging can be accomplished with a sodium battery charger.

Conclusion

Through a systematic analysis of sodium-ion battery applications, it is evident that sodium-ion batteries have achieved commercialization in various fields, showcasing unique advantages. In the energy storage sector, sodium batteries are gradually replacing lead-acid batteries in large-scale storage stations and home energy systems due to their low cost and safety features. In the transportation sector, sodium batteries have been successfully implemented in electric two-wheelers and low-speed electric vehicles, effectively addressing the pollution caused by lead-acid batteries and the high costs associated with lithium batteries. In communication and backup power supply sectors, the wide temperature range of sodium batteries makes them an ideal choice for base station power sources.

Notably, since 2023, leading companies such as CATL and Zhongke Haina have achieved mass production of sodium batteries, marking the entry of this technology into a phase of scalability. Moving forward, with optimized material systems and improved manufacturing processes, sodium-ion batteries are expected to achieve breakthroughs in more application scenarios, becoming a crucial supplementary technology in the energy storage field and offering new solutions for global energy transformation.