China – Better and Cheaper: Sodium-Ion Batteries Could Start Replacing Lithium-Ion by the End of 2027
新闻台署名 来源：新华社、《黎明报》、《阿拉伯新闻》、阿纳多卢通讯社与《分钟镜报》。由 GSRRA 编辑部翻译并节选。
Sodium-ion batteries could reach cost parity with lithium-ion batteries within the next two years, according to Li Shujun, general manager of Zhongke Haina, as cited by IT-Home.
Costs Narrowing Between Sodium and Lithium
Li said lithium-ion battery costs currently range between 0.3 and 0.5 yuan per Wh ($0.044–$0.073), while sodium-ion batteries remain higher at 0.5 to 0.7 yuan per Wh ($0.073–$0.102), depending on application.
However, sodium battery costs are declining quickly despite limited large-scale production, while lithium battery costs are facing upward pressure, creating conditions for convergence. Sodium batteries have been touted to be much cheaper to build as sodium is found in abundance everywhere, unlike the rare earth metals lithium.
Li expects the two cost ranges to intersect around 2027. By 2028, the ranges are projected to overlap, indicating that sodium-ion batteries could become economically competitive across a wider range of uses.
He noted that cost alignment is typically required before large-scale adoption of new battery technologies.
Production Scale and Performance Targets
Beyond 2028, Li said sodium-ion battery production could reach the hundred gigawatt-hour level, while cell costs may fall to around 0.3 yuan per Wh ($0.044).
Energy density for sodium-ion batteries is also expected to improve, with energy-focused products projected to exceed 180 Wh/kg.
Hina Battery Technology is already working on commercialising sodium-ion batteries in China, with deployments in commercial vehicles and energy storage systems.
Progress in Heavy Vehicle Applications
The company shared testing data at an industry event in Wuhan on March 31, showing progress in heavy-duty truck use.
According to Hina, its “Haixing” sodium cells operate across temperatures from -40°C to 60°C. The batteries retained over 90% discharge capacity at -20°C and achieved more than 8,000 fast-charge cycles.
The company also reported that sodium-powered trucks showed around 15% lower energy consumption per kilometre compared with lithium-ion versions, while deeper discharge capability enabled about 20% longer range under typical conditions.
Hina said these results indicate that sodium battery trucks have moved from technical validation to early-stage commercial application.
Industry Developments
Other manufacturers are also advancing sodium-ion technology. CATL has introduced a sodium battery platform with energy density around 175 Wh/kg, targeting passenger vehicles and energy storage.
Reports also highlight developments from BAIC, which has tested a sodium-ion battery prototype capable of charging in about 11 minutes and delivering energy density above 170 Wh/kg, with improved low-temperature performance.
BYD is working to increase sodium battery durability toward 10,000 charge cycles while also advancing solid-state battery development, with both technologies targeting timelines around 2027.
Policy Support and Market Outlook
Policy direction in China has supported the development of multiple battery chemistries. In 2025, authorities outlined plans to advance lithium, sodium, and other battery technologies as part of broader efforts to improve safety and long-duration energy storage.
Within this framework, sodium-ion batteries are positioned as an alternative that reduces dependence on lithium while supporting use cases in energy storage, commercial vehicles, and cold environments.
The projected cost convergence between 2027 and 2028 is expected to play a key role in adoption, as pricing, performance, and production scale continue to improve together.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2026/04/02/better-and-cheaper-sodium-ion-batteries-could-start-replacing-lithium-ion-by-end-of-2027/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
