Sodium Ion Batteries

Why in news?

• Coimbatore-based start-up AR4 Tech has announced a strategic partnership with Singapore's Sodion Energy to produce sodium ion battery packs for both the domestic and export markets.
• The collaboration aims to leverage Sodion Energy's expertise in sodium-ion battery technology and AR4 Tech's manufacturing capabilities.

About Sodium Ion Batteries:

• They are rechargeable batteries which require sodium ion movement between electrodes during the charging and discharging of the battery, the cathode for these batteries is manufactured from sodium.

Two types of batteries currently used:

• Currently, the two dominant commercial options to fulfill energy storage needs in India are lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and lead-acid batteries (LAB).
• Lead-acid batteries (LAB):
  • They are hugely popular in India, especially for the manufacturing of two and three-wheeler electric vehicle owing to their affordability, material accessibility and recycling rates.
  • However, these batteries have various social, environmental and safety-related issues, despite years of innovation and popularity.
  • The accumulation of lead released from the dominant informal recycling sector of the country in the human body can be fatal as it damages neurons of the central nervous system and hinders mental growth in children.
• Lithium-ion batteries (LIB):
  • They have gained high commercial value in the global market due to their high energy density, compact size and enhanced cycle life.
  • These batteries have the upper hand in performance when compared to LABs. However, material scarcity and higher costs restrain their production up-scaling.
  • Due to these shortcomings, the market has been eyeing capturing the potential of a promising alternative Sodium-ion battery (SIB).

Benefits of Sodium-Ion:

• It's cheaper to produce than their lithium counterparts because of the abundance of the raw materials required to make them.
• They have 45% less global warming potential than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
• They are energy dense, non-flammable, and operate well in colder temperatures.
• Further they can store more energy per unit weight; this could make them well-suited for larger applications such as electric vehicles.
• They are less likely to experience thermal runaway, a condition that can cause fires in lithium-ion batteries.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Sodium Ion Batteries’:

1. They are nonflammable

2. They are lightweight compared to lithium ion batteries

3. They are cheaper to produce than their lithium counterparts because of the abundance of the raw materials

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer