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Next Generation Batteries: Northvolt's Bet on Sodium Ion
Northvolt, a Swedish battery developer, has recently announced significant progress in the development of sodium ion batteries. This research and development is part of a broader effort to find alternatives to the expensive and controversial metals used in today's batteries. Northvolt's new sodium ion battery is based on a salt called 'Prussian white', which could potentially replace metals such as nickel, manganese, cobalt and graphite used in today's standard NMC batteries.
One of the most notable aspects of Northvolt's progress is that their sodium ion battery has an improved energy density of 160 Wh/kg, which is close to the energy density achieved by lithium ion batteries (around 200 Wh/kg). This is particularly noteworthy as previous sodium ion batteries have often had a lower energy density compared to both NMC and LFP batteries.
It is worth noting that CATL, the world's largest battery manufacturer, is also working on sodium ion batteries and has filed a patent for a new generation with a record energy density of 200 Wh/kg.
Northvolt's sodium ion battery has been developed at its research facility in Västerås in collaboration with the company Altris. Plans include delivering the first test batteries with this technology to customers already next year. However, these batteries are not intended for car manufacturers in the first place, but rather for green energy storage, mainly in India, the Middle East and Africa.
While it may be some time before we see electric cars powered by 'salt batteries', Northvolt's development represents a significant step towards more cost-effective and environmentally friendly battery technologies. With continued development, Northvolt could eventually produce sodium ion batteries suitable for electric vehicles.