Comparing Sodium-ion and Lithium-ion Batteries

Sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries both store and release energy by transferring charged particles between negative and positive electrodes. However, lithium-ion cells currently offer a higher energy density, storing more energy for their weight and size than sodium-ion cells. While lithium-ion holds a major head start in production and industry use, sodium-ion batteries boast superior availability of materials, better cold-weather performance, and a lower risk of thermal runaway. Manufacturers like CATL and General Motors are moving toward larger-scale production, though supply chains for components like nickel and manganese still present challenges.