Electric cars are booming, and they’re also the subject of a lot of criticism, especially about their batteries: indeed, they’re still expensive at the moment and contain rare or polluting materials like lithium or cobalt.

But a new technology is about to invade the market: sodium batteries they are really being talked about in the spring of 2023, particularly at the Shanghai show, where Asian manufacturers are currently showing off their latest innovations.

Sodium batteries: inexpensive models

Less efficient than lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), sodium-ion batteries have other arguments: indeed, they have a lower energy density (160 Wh/kg vs. more than 200 Wh/kg for LFP), but reflected in a much more affordable price.

They also have the benefit of reflection better performance in cold weathera good level of security, while the opportunity to be charges faster. And even if this technology is not new, it is booming in China and in demand sodium saltwhich is a major raw material on Earth.

Indeed, at the Shanghai show, equipment manufacturers and manufacturers are announcing the arrival of sodium batteries this year: sector leader CATL will equip future models from the manufacturer Chery, while JMEV, JAC and BYD will also equip their future models with sodium batteries. batteries

Sodium batteries: more for small models?

We should find more sodium batteries on small urban models: indeed, this market is an attractive segment for manufacturers, and this is vitallower the price electric city cars to win more customers.

The sodium battery plays a role here as it will allow reduce cost by almost 20% batteries, demonstrating sufficient autonomy for urban use.

On our lands, Renault is interested in this sodium-ion technology, investing in the Chinese joint venture JMEV (Jiangling Motors Electric Vehicles), which is preparing to launch its small EV3: an electric city car equipped with a sodium battery. Therefore, it is not surprising that the French group will soon have models equipped with a sodium battery: this is an ideal opportunity to reduce prices, for example, on electric Dacia!