Future Battery Technology: Could Sea Salt Replace Lithium?

In the ever-busy Hangzhou, China, a line of chic little electric scooters parked at the busy mall’s entrance created quite a stir. Rather than sticking to the traditional lead-acid battery or lithium-ion battery, these little two-wheelers go for a really debatable energy source; sodium is garnered from ordinary sea salt. The innovation boldly steps into battery technology, spearheaded by Chinese manufacturers that wish to set themselves apart from the traditional dependence on lithium. As sodium-ion batteries gain traction, green energy storage and EVs may altogether change their direction.

From lithium to sea-salt: The conversion of battery technology

For decades now ever since the commercial advent of the smartphone, lithium-ion batteries have been the mainstream choice in all sorts of electronic products, from smartphones to electric vehicles. High energy density coupled with a long lifespan makes them a good portable power source. As demand for lithium continues to escalate, however, its price and environmental impact have become matters of grave concern.

China Leads the Charge: The First Sodium-Powered Cars

Achieving sodium-based vehicles puts Chinese manufacturers yet again in the forefront of world battery technology. Though fortuitously the initial instances are small and have a shorter range, these are great symbols of significance and a big stepping stone towards diversification and energy independence.

In April 2025, mass production of sodium-ion batteries under the “Night” new brand was commenced by CATL, mainly targeting the passenger car and electric truck sectors, and other companies have started building sodium-ion energy storage power stations to cater to the reliable supply of clean energy.

Sodium-ion batteries have an immense potential in the two-wheel transport sector in expert opinion. Jadea is one company that has introduced three variants of sodium-ion batteries and intends to continue increasing the range of its offerings. The vehicles target mainly an increasing population of city commuters for whom efficiency, sustainability, and fast charging are considerations.

The Rise of the “Little Electric Donkeys”

Electric two-wheelers are an everyday mode of transport in Asian countries and are even colloquially termed “little electric donkeys” in China. In China alone, in the year 2023, 55 million electric two-wheelers were sold, which is almost six times the sales of all clean energy vehicles in the same year.

Sodium-ion batteries fit well within this range of vehicles. While they have less energy density compared to lithium batteries, sodium batteries charge much faster and cost less than traditional lead-acid batteries. For low-speed short-distance applications, sodium batteries are adequate.

In order to promote the adoption of sodium batteries, Jadea started the Shenzhen pilot project to provide battery-swapping services to 150,000 food delivery riders. Now a rider can swap an empty battery for a fully charged one in just 30 seconds. There will be 50,000 battery-swapping stations installed in Shenzhen by 2027.

Safety, Sustainability, and Performance

Sodium-ion batteries also have an advantage in safety. In 2024, a spate of lithium battery fires in electric vehicles in China caught the attention of the public. Sodium batteries are chemically more stable, less prone to overheating or catching fire, and safer to use.
Sodium batteries also perform more effectively in low-temperature situations. As per the research at Xi’an Jiaotong University, the capacity of lithium batteries drops abruptly below zero temperatures, whereas sodium batteries can still hold more than 80% of their power at minus 40°C.
Environmentally, sodium batteries can reduce the application of rare metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and mitigate the environmental harm brought about by mining activities. Although the technology has yet to be optimized, the production of sodium batteries in the future will further reduce carbon emissions.

Scaling Up: Sodium for Energy Storage

Besides electric vehicles, sodium batteries also demonstrate very good potential in the field of grid energy storage application. Energy storage equipment, as opposed to cars, is usually stationary and does not require so much battery volume and weight.
China has built several sodium battery energy storage projects, such as a 10-megawatt-hour power station in Guangxi that can supply power to 1,500 families. As the application of sodium batteries in the storage of such renewable energies as wind and solar energy expands, the stability of the power grid will also improve.
To meet future demand, Chinese battery manufacturers scheduled 27 new sodium battery production projects with a capacity of 180GWh in 2024. It is estimated that by 2033, the global production capacity of sodium batteries will exceed 500GWh. More than 90% of this will be from China.

Market Realities and Challenges Ahead

Despite the optimism, sodium-ion batteries still face challenges. Their lower energy density limits vehicle range, and current unit prices remain higher than lithium-ion equivalents. However, with increasing mass production and developments, these gaps are expected to narrow.

Beyond China, Natron Energy (US) and Faradion (UK) are entering the fray. Their rate of production and scale, however, cannot begin to match that of China, with a Chinese government-backed master plan promising faster lab-to-market rollout.

Huijue Group’s Role in the Future of Battery Energy Storage

With the battery revolution in full swing, Huijue Group is diligently striving to create and provide top-of-the-line energy storage solutions to make next-generation technology a reality. With a history of more than two decades in the sector, Huijue provides reliable, scalable and intelligent energy storage solutions for the following segments:

Industrial and commercial use

Electric two-wheeler infrastructure

Home energy systems

Grid-scale renewable energy storage

Huijue’s integrated platform supports both lithium-ion and future-proof sodium-ion technologies, supports battery swapping, fast charging and EMS integration.

When sodium-ion battery technology matures, Huijue Group is poised to make the world transition to a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable energy future.

Interested in finding out more about future-proof battery technology and green energy options?

Find out about Huijue Group’s revolutionary energy storage systems here.