Chery will be the first to use new sodium-ion battery technology developed by CATL. The new battery for electric cars promises to revolutionize the market automotive.

Chery, chinese manufacturer of vehicles, will be the first automaker to use sodium ion batteries from CATL, the global leader in batteries for electric cars. The new technology promises to increase the value of electric models, since the battery is the most expensive item to produce this type of vehicle.

Sodium-ion batteries can be charged in just 15 minutes

The sodium ion batteries, which will be used by Chery, were launched by the Chinese company CATL in July 2021 and offer a range of up to 400 km for a electric car. The company has already started the industrialization layout for sodium ion batteries and has plans to form a basic industrial chain later this year.

As sodium ion batteries company uses solid electrolytes in place of liquids, reducing the risk of leaks, explosions or overheating. The first generation of sodium ion batteries can be charged in 15 minutes to 80% capacity at temperature. At low temperatures, this number can reach over 90%.

One of the benefits of this type of component, which will be used by Chery, is that they can use cheaper and more abundant cathode materials than those used in lithium-ion batteries, which require more expensive materials such as cobalt. Sodium is a much more present element in the earth, which means that there may be less restrictions on the supply of raw materials for battery production.

Other automakers are betting on similar projects

For now, the technology that uses sodium has a lower electrical charge efficiency, although the energy density of 160 Wh/Kg is not as high as the batteries of current electric cars, which exceed 250 Wh/Kg in the case of Tesla models.

The sodium ion battery is under development and the Chinese company plans to improve this number. Sodium ion batteries from CATL should be used at first in two-wheel models, however the technology should also be created for electric cars, mainly because this type of technology has a lower cost for automakers.

In addition to Cher, JAC, in turn, is betting on a similar prototype, manufactured by Hina Battery, which has a capacity of 25 Wkh, 120 Wh/kg of energy density and a range of 252 km on a single charge. A Renault also invests in sodium ion batteries through its subsidiary Chinese Jiangling Motors Electric Vehicle (JMEV).

Scientists find methods for extracting lithium from the sea

Although new ways of making batteries for electric cars are emerging, lithium is still very important for this market. In February of this year, a group of researchers developed a method of extracting lithium from ocean waters.

Lithium is of paramount importance for the manufacture of rechargeable batteries that power everything from smartphones to electric cars. However, the current pace of mining for the material will not be possible to meet future demand, threatening to deplete known terrestrial supplies by 2080.

In this way, the extraction of lithium from seawater can be the means to make this mineral available in a sustainable and accessible way for the electric car battery industry. A team from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in Saudi Arabia, found a way to resolve the issue of lithium mining by extracting the mineral through ocean water.