World’s First Sodium-Ion Battery Powered EV
Chinese electric vehicle brand JAC Auto has unveiled the world’s first-ever EV powered by a sodium-ion battery. This breakthrough technology has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of electric vehicles, making them a more viable option compared to petrol, diesel, or CNG vehicles. Sodium-ion batteries are made from cheaper raw materials, reducing the cost of the battery and the electric vehicle itself. Moreover, they offer an alternative to existing technologies like the expensive and rare lithium-ion battery. Cobalt, another rare and expensive material used in batteries, can also be avoided by using sodium-ion batteries.
Performance
Hina Battery Technologies, a Beijing-based startup, developed the sodium-ion battery used in JAC’s electric vehicle. The battery offers better cost performance, high safety, and excellent cycle performance. It has a lower density than lithium-ion batteries, but it has advantages like low-temperature performance and charging speed. The electric vehicle has a 25-kilowatt-hour battery that can go as far as 250 kilometers on a single charge.
Cheaper Alternative for EVs
The use of sodium-ion batteries has the potential to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry. A surge in lithium carbonate prices last year made many battery manufacturers and downstream users face ever-rising cost pressures, according to Hina. With sodium-ion batteries, EV makers have a cheaper alternative that offers similar performance and safety standards. The sodium-ion battery could reduce the cost of electric vehicles by at least 10 percent, making them a more affordable option for consumers.
Chinese Automakers in Global Market
Chinese electric vehicle brands are slowly but surely making their mark on the global stage. BYD, another Chinese electric carmaker, plans to sell nearly two million EVs this year, including in Japan and countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. It aims to overtake Elon Musk-run Tesla in unit sales by 2023. The total number of plug-in vehicles worldwide is projected to surpass 137 million by 2027, according to Juniper Research, up from 49 million in 2023.
Future of Electric Vehicles
The electric vehicle industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and innovations being introduced regularly. The emergence of sodium-ion batteries as a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries could be a game-changer. As electric vehicles become more affordable and accessible, they could replace petrol, diesel, and CNG vehicles, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The future looks bright for the electric vehicle industry, and sodium-ion batteries could play a crucial role in its growth and success.
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