The cost of sodium-ion batteries is significantly lower than that of lithium-ion batteries, primarily due to the cheaper and more abundant raw materials used in their manufacture.
- Sodium-ion batteries cost about 3 to 4 times less than lithium-ion batteries from manufacturing to end-use, largely because sodium-ion batteries use aluminum current collectors which are much cheaper than the copper used in lithium-ion batteries.
- The raw material cost difference is stark: sodium compounds like sodium carbonate cost roughly $290 per metric ton, compared to lithium carbonate’s approximate $35,000 per metric ton, making sodium about 20 times cheaper than lithium on a raw material basis.
- According to one estimate, sodium-ion battery packs cost about one-third less than lithium-ion packs; one source cites manufacturing sodium-ion cells at around $50/kWh compared to $70/kWh for lithium-ion cells.
- Sodium-ion batteries avoid costly and scarce materials such as cobalt and reduce reliance on lithium supply chains, which are concentrated in few countries and have seen price surges due to rising demand.
- Production-wise, sodium-ion cells share a similar manufacturing process to lithium-ion cells, meaning that switching production lines would not require heavy new investments, supporting cost advantages for sodium-ion technology.
In summary, sodium-ion batteries offer a clear cost advantage—often 30% to 75% cheaper—than lithium-ion batteries, driven by abundant, low-cost sodium and cheaper aluminum components, and simpler supply chains. However, this lower cost sometimes comes with trade-offs in energy density and lifecycle performance, which currently limits sodium-ion batteries primarily to stationary storage and some lower-range electric vehicle applications.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-cost-of-sodium-ion-batteries-compare-to-lithium-ion-batteries-2/
