The drop in the price of lithium hasn't deterred sodium-ion battery makers, it seems. The world's largest EV battery makers CATL and BYD have both announced Na-ion battery projects, but there are already dedicated startups that are ahead of the curve when it comes to commercialization.
A case in point is Zoolnasm Energy, whose sodium-ion battery technology has now been picked by a large automotive supplier. The company will start delivering Na-ion cells for the four-year contract next year, with volume supply beginning by July 2025.
The sodium-ion battery contract amounts to the equivalent of $28.1 million, too, so it is not an insignificant contract, as the battery maker plans up to 10 GWh annual battery pack output. So far, Zoolnasm has unveiled several Na-ion battery types for both automotive applications and grid storage, with energy density of up to 190 Wh/kg.
Back in the spring, the company announced the NFS-50, an iron sulfate sodium ion battery cell that has been designed for hybrid powertrains or start-stop vehicle systems. While it didn't specify the applications that its sodium-ion batteries will be used for in the contract with the unnamed automotive parts manufacturer, there are hints that its cells will go towards low-voltage vehicle systems.
The big advantage of Zoolnasm's Na-ion battery technology, besides the typical for the chemistry high safety and charging rates, as well as a lifespan of several thousand cycles, is their price. Compared to lithium batteries, the company's sodium-ion cells can cost 50% less, making them an attractive choice for low-cost vehicles.
There are already electric cars with sodium-ion batteries in production, and as supplier contracts like these increase, the technology is bound to become more popular among battery companies and automakers alike.
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