The sodium batteries they have immense potential as an entry platform to a market for electric cars that is more accessible than the current one based on lithium-ion batteries.
These are a type of battery that provides a good energy density. This allows not only ultra fast recharges without excessive degradation, but they are also cheaper compared to current ones. But, in this race of sodium batteries Chinese giants stand out CATL Y BYDwho compete to be the first to launch this new technology on the market.
CATL, the global battery manufacturer
Recently, CATL announced that this technology would be available by 2023. The world’s largest battery manufacturer is developing several technologies and chemistries in parallel in the short, medium and long term. Although of them, the most advanced is still sodium.
According to what was reported by Forococheseléctricos.com, CATL sodium batteries have an energy density of 160 Wh/kg, a figure that places them at the level of the LFP and below the NMC.
However, CATL confirmed that it is prepared to produce a version that increases this figure by 25% and that puts production models up to 200 Wh/kg. An energy density slightly lower than that of current lithium, cobalt and manganese cells, which is around 220-250 Wh/kg.
It should be mentioned that the CATL sodium batteries They are capable of recovering 80% of their capacity in 15 minutes, in addition to being able to withstand 3,000 charge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of their total capacity. Also, the cost is well below lithium batteries.
According to the Chinese manufacturer, the objective is to bring the cost of production in the cell to 77 dollars per kWh for the start of production, with the aim of lowering it to 40 dollars per kWh in the medium term.
BYD and CATL for sodium batteries
Well it seems that CATL takes the risk in the race for sodium batteries for one of its main competitors, BYD. The Chinese company has also reported that it hopes to start production of its new sodium batteries during the second quarter of 2023, few months before CATL.
In the case of BYDwhich also makes cars, seek to meet the demand for its most economical vehicles, specifically: the Qin EV saloon, the Dolphin compact and the new Seagull urban vehicle, which has not yet been presented.
The sodium batteries They are the key in the short and medium term for electric car manufacturers to provide affordable models that complete the penetration of these vehicles in the world market.
Of course, we will have to wait CATL he stands up to BYD. What is known is that it has the resources and capacity to achieve it, something that in the end would benefit the final consumer.
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Font: Motor.es