Graph showing the specific energies of sodium-ion materials achieved in sodium-ion cells http://www.faradion.co.uk/technology/sodium-ion-technology/
Credit: Faradion
Regular readers of these pages may remember Professor Donald Sadoway & his ideas on how to create low cost technology, including: “Confine our chemistry to Earth-abundant elements, that’s how to make it cheap.”
Lithium ion batteries violate this principle — at 0.0017% of the Earth’s crust*, lithium is far from Earth-abundant. Further, sources are controlled by just a few players.
Sodium shares many properties with lithium (same column in the Periodic Table, one row down**), but as the sixth most abundant element in the Earth's crust (2.8%)***, it is abundant almost everywhere & so, cheaper. These properties make sodium an attractive candidate for use in a battery to replace existing lithium-ion.
British start-up Faradion, with Williams Advanced Engineering, Oxford University & part-funded by Innovate UK, has developed a sodium-ion battery with performance comparable to lithium-ion.
http://www.electric-vehiclenews.com/2015/05/williams-demo-worlds-first-sodium-ion.html
http://www.faradion.co.uk/
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* "Abundance in Earth's Crust of the elements" http://www.periodictable.com/Properties/A/CrustAbundance.an.log.html
** “Dynamic Periodic Table” http://www.ptable.com/
*** “Abundances of the Elements in the Earth's Crust” http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/tables/elabund.html / Williams Advanced Engineering first public demonstration sodium-ion battery cell powered vehicle developed British battery start-up firm Faradion collaboration Williams Advanced Engineering Oxford University technology demonstrated e-bike application proof-of-concept showcase battery chemistry project sodium-ion battery technology part-funded Innovate UK UK’s innovation agency latest competition disruptive technologies low carbon vehicles lithium-ion batteries currently predominant technology electric hybrid vehicles energy storage applications sodium-ion offer cost safety sourcing benefits base materials sodium-ion batteries more easily sourced lithium-ion batteries limited number of markets market source sources around the world sodium salts sodium-ion batteries common salt more abundant lithium salt available British battery supply chain proof-of-concept cells e-bike manufactured larger than necessary avoid unnecessary costs lengthy manufacturing processes early stage optimised cells comparable in size lithium-ion battery packs already on the market potential exploit technology use in a wide range of electric hybrid vehicles energy storage applications e-bike battery pack four 12-cell modules designed manufactured Williams Advanced Engineering controlled Williams designed battery management system Williams proven leader design manufacture battery energy storage technology developed batteries Formula E electric racing series Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar Kinetic Energy Recovery SystemsKERS power company’s Formula One racing cars Oxford University’s expertise maximise battery life comparable performance sodium-ion cells can offer comparable lifetime lithium-ion products Paul McNamara Technical Director Williams Advanced Engineering history innovation lithium-ion battery technology range of different applications lithium-ion dominant choice chemistry sodium-ion alternative real benefits cost availability Faradion Oxford University potential today showcasing concept real world application /
