Sodium-ion batteries developed in China could become low-cost rival to Tesla’s batteries

Researchers say Hina’s Chinese sodium-ion cells show strong uniformity, high power output, and solid cold-weather discharge in tests of 120 batteries.

The study used spectroscopy, temperature-controlled testing, X-rays, and teardown analysis to compare the cells’ quality and design.

The batteries feature a tabless double-aluminum structure and a copper-containing cathode, but still lag in low-temperature charging and energy density.

If those weaknesses improve, sodium-ion batteries could become a cheaper, more abundant alternative to lithium-ion for grid storage and some vehicles.