Battery Week
Lithium Rival Sodium Is Making a Battery Breakthrough for EVs in China
Volatile lithium prices and advances in technology mean sodium-ion cells are finally providing a credible alternative for automakers and the energy sector.
A CATL sodium-ion battery model.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergWith a thick outdoor jacket to protect against -30C (-22F) temperatures and bitter winds, Calvin Quek joined car and technology enthusiasts huddled by a test track on the outskirts of a picturesque ski region in Inner Mongolia.
They watched Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. electric SUVs and a sleek battery-powered coupe effortlessly navigate icy roads and steep snow-dusted slopes at the facility in Yakeshi, northeastern China. Yet for the crowd at the February demonstration, the most impressive factor was out of view.