Recap: Within the first two components of this sequence, we mentioned, from the Indian perspective, the important function batteries play in reaching our clear vitality and transportation targets of 2030. We briefly reviewed the whole worth chain of Lithium-ion Battery, proper from mining, uncooked materials processing, cell manufacturing, and battery pack meeting to battery administration programs. The important thing takeaway from this analysis is that India could be properly positioned in battery packaging and battery administration programs and should atone for cell manufacturing over subsequent few years. Nevertheless, establishing uncooked supplies manufacturing functionality is just not a simple feat, particularly contemplating the required scale of operation, required tempo of progress and geopolitical dynamics concerned. Due to this fact, there’s a urgent have to discover, make investments and develop various battery know-how that makes use of uncooked supplies out there in India, that’s developed from scratch in India and that may share/leverage upon all of the knowhow, infrastructure, provide chain that’s parallely being developed for Lithium-ion batteries. We expect that Sodium-ion battery know-how is essentially the most appropriate on this context and within the final article of this sequence, we will dive deep into this.The basics of Lithium and Sodium-ion battery electrochemistry have been established virtually concurrently within the 1970’s. Their working precept was inherently equivalent. With the arrival of high-capacity Lithium Cobalt Oxide cathode materials and Sony’s profitable demonstration of Lithium-ion cell fabrication processes, Lithium-ion battery know-how leapfrogged. Past 1990’s virtually the whole battery analysis group targeted their consideration on the event of Lithium-ion Battery. Progress was quick in discovering, optimizing, and scaling up the Lithium-ion battery supplies and processes.Nevertheless, since 2010, the battery analysis group has had a renewed curiosity in Sodium-based cathode/anode/electrolytes. Over the previous couple of years, a very new ecosystem is being developed round this chemistry. Greater than 10 firms have introduced commercialization plans by 2024/25.
Desk 1 presents an outline of the most important firms concerned in Sodium-ion battery commercialization.
| Firm Identify (Established Yr) | Collaboration/Funding/ Announcement | Standing/ Mass Manufacturing | Goal Market | Cell Efficiency |
| Faradion (2011,UK) | Acquired by Reliance New Vitality in 2021, | Scale up/Giga manufacturing unit deliberate in India | Grid Storage, Electrical autos | 160 Whr/kg, 3000 cycles |
| Natron Vitality (2012, USA) | Collaboration with Clarios for cell manufacturing | 0.6 GWhr by 2024 | Knowledge heart Again up | 20-30 Whr/Kg, 50,000 cycles |
| CATL (2011, China) | First announcement in July 2021 | Gigafactory deliberate in china | Electrical autos | 160 Whr/kg |
| HiNa Battery 2017, China)( | HYA Yang group, Three gorges group & Hina group | 1 GWhr capability to be scaled as much as 5 Whr in 2023 | Low pace scooters | 145 Whr/kg, 4500 cycles |
| BYD (2003, China) | First announcement in 2021, first to make use of in passenger car-Seagull | Gigafactory deliberate in China | Passenger vehicles | 120-130 Whr/kg |
Sodium-ion battery
Presently, Sodium-ion batteries on the whole have decrease vitality densities than Lithium-ion NMC sort batteries (250 Whr/kg). All the prevailing Sodium-ion battery firms are utilizing completely different cathode supplies, so the vary of reported vitality densities is sort of vast – from 40 Whr/kg to 160 Whr/kg. But when we have a look at the large progress that has occurred in Lithium-ion battery efficiency over the previous 5 years, Sodium-ion battery will definitely meet up with Lithium-ion over the following few years.Furthermore, Sodium-ion chemistry presents sure advantages over Lithium-ion that makes them extra beneficial for sure functions. Their temperature tolerance is wider. The low temperature (sub-zero) efficiency is very higher than Lithium-ion batteries. Even within the case of excessive temperature Sodium performs higher. As is talked about within the earlier article, the on-ground expertise in India reveals that the efficiency of the Lithium-ion batteries in India is decrease than what they get in China due to our increased temperature circumstances.
Sodium batteries might be discharged deeper and may even be saved and transported at zero voltage state. This can be a nice security benefit for transportation. Additionally, their energy density and particularly quick charging sturdiness is normally higher than Lithium batteries.
Purposes
Owing to those attributes, Sodium-ion batteries are preferable for a lot of functions. Inside stationary functions broadly there are two classes: Behind the meter (BTM) and in entrance of the meter (FTM) functions. BTM covers photo voltaic rooftop, industrial UPS backup, telecom tower backup, diesel generator minimization and so on. FTM covers grid scale renewable vitality integration, grid provide and demand administration, frequency regulation and so on. In each BTM and FTM, Sodium-ion batteries might be very appropriate.
Inside mobility functions, resulting from decrease vitality density of Sodium-ion batteries, solely industrial autos equivalent to bus, 3-wheeler and industrial supply autos have been regarded as appropriate. In 2 and 4-wheelers the load and quantity necessities are stringent, so having excessive vitality density of the battery is essential. Nevertheless, with the current enhancements in efficiency, CATL and BYD have introduced plans to launch passenger 4-wheelers additionally with Sodium-ion batteries (JAC EV, Seagull and so on.). With these developments now 2-wheelers may come underneath the radar of Sodium-ion batteries.
Past this, there are different stationery and mobility functions in Defence, Marine and Aviation sectors. Every of those has further constraints about security, weight/quantity availability and dependency on China. Therefore by strategically deciding on the fitting functions for Sodium and Lithium Batteries, the steep demand for Lithium might be shaved off.
Whereas Lithium-ion cell costs in China are a lot low-USD 80-100/KWh- the landed worth in India is sort of broad- USD 100-300/KWh. That is based mostly on the cell chemistry (LFP, NMC, LTO), capability (3 Ah to >100 Ah), high quality (automotive grade vs low grade) and order quantity. The uncooked materials worth of Sodium-ion batteries will likely be at round 30-50% decrease than Lithium-ion, so on the identical quantity of manufacturing Sodium-ion batteries are anticipated to succeed in USD 70/KWh. At this worth stage, all questions on industrial viability of fresh vitality and clear transportation will vanish!
Price benefit
What issues to a last consumer isn’t just the price of the cell, however the price of the whole battery system. That is the place Sodium-ion battery scores even higher. For instance, higher temperature tolerance of Sodium-battery chemistry can scale back the associated fee and complexity of battery cooling programs by >20%. Quicker charging functionality might help in decreasing the put in pack measurement by availing a number of charging alternatives throughout the day (that is notably related for intra-city public transportation buses, 3-wheelers in addition to 2-wheelers in India). This may scale back the price of a battery pack per car by >30%. Deeper depths of discharge and longer cycle life can scale back the full price of possession by >30%. Our calculations present that contemplating all these advantages, an city car, whether or not 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler, a supply van or a bus, would price lower than a diesel or a petroleum equal. The price discount might be to the tune of 30% as in comparison with diesel.
Thus, even past self-sufficiency in uncooked materials provide, Sodium-ion battery know-how will make an ideal industrial case for all of the functions talked about above. The tempo of improvement/investments and scale of manufacturing is the one key. All of the uncooked supplies utilized in Sodium-ion batteries can be found in India. As a rustic, we have to transfer very quick to extend the size in order that we get the identical benefit that China has on Lithium.
Utility-based applied sciences
At KPIT, we’ve been captivated with clear atmosphere and clear, sustainable applied sciences. Now we have been deeply concerned in electrical powertrain improvement since its early days and have been taking a look at each important techno-commercial side concerned. Our concern has been, if the entire world leans on Lithium, it’ll grow to be like Crude oil, and the nations controlling Lithium will ultimately be like OPEC nations. Therefore round 8 years in the past, we began creating knowhow in battery know-how and studied Lithium and different various battery applied sciences within the context of the market segments of our curiosity.
We collaborated extensively with analysis laboratories in India and overseas, and developed a Sodium-ion battery know-how from scratch. We developed a core group having a deep understanding of battery supplies, processes, and characterization in addition to a state-of-the-art facility the place prototype cells and modules might be constructed and examined. A lot of the Indian firms who’re planning to arrange Giga factories of Lithium-ion cells should both license the know-how or purchase international firms. Since our know-how is developed utterly floor up, the understanding of the know-how is way deeper. Presently we’re within the strategy of testing the battery packs in chosen stationery and mobility functions. We’re a know-how improvement firm, and our goal is to analysis and provide you with commercial-ready options. We are going to team-up with cell manufacturing firms to take our options forward. We will likely be saying our know-how which others can begin manufacturing within the subsequent few months. Our nation wants steady funding in new applied sciences, and we do hope that there will likely be many gamers within the analysis house.
The world is just not dominated by a single species. A wholesome forest has timber of various sorts, bugs, birds, and animals of various sorts. All of them evolve based mostly on the native geographical and environmental circumstances. So equally, the world of batteries won’t be dominated by only one battery. As it’s mentioned, completely different strokes for various of us. We consider that as vitality storage applied sciences mature, there will likely be completely different battery chemistries for various functions. This can broad-base the demand for various supplies. With this method, we’re trying ahead to a time the place our vitality wants are met by us, our imports of fuels are lowered, our home economic system is flourishing and the air in our nation is clear and breathable!
That is the third and final a part of the article sequence by Ravi Pandit and Sarika Kelkar. The earlier 2 articles are– Batteries for EVs: Lithium-ion and past and Lithium-ion and past: EV battery uncooked materials refining and manufacturing – Opinion
(Disclaimer: Ravi Pandit is the co-founder and Chairman, KPIT Applied sciences, and. Sarika Kelkar is Senior Programs Lead, KPIT Applied sciences. Views are private.)
