Table salt in your chips? It’s mostly sodium. Now imagine using a cousin of that sodium to power scooters, portable power banks, and even small electric cars. That’s the idea behind sodium-ion batteries. In 2025 they’re moving from lab benches into real products. They’re cheaper and safer than many lithium batteries, and they cope better with cold weather—but they store less energy for their size. So where do they shine right now?
Sodium-ion in a nutshell
Batteries store energy by shuttling ions between two electrodes. In lithium-ion cells the moving ions are lithium; in sodium-ion cells they’re sodium. Because sodium is far more common (and easier to source) than lithium, these batteries can be cheaper to make. They also use chemistries that avoid scarce metals like cobalt and nickel. That’s good for cost and for the planet.
Why engineers are excited (especially in 2025)
- Cost and materials: Sodium is abundant in the Earth’s crust and oceans, so supply chains are less stressed.
- Safety: Many sodium-ion designs are more stable at high temperatures and have a lower fire risk.
- Cold-weather performance: Some sodium-ion systems keep working when it’s freezing—handy for winter commutes or outdoor gear. Recent consumer launches even advertise charging at sub-zero temperatures.
- Good enough energy for short trips: They don’t pack as much energy as today’s best lithium cells, but for short-range vehicles and gadgets, that’s fine.
Where you’ll actually see them in 2025
- Small EVs in China: In late 2023 and early 2024, the first sodium-ion battery cars rolled off production lines and even started exporting to Central and South America. These are compact, city-friendly runabouts—exactly where sodium-ion makes sense because range demands are modest and cost matters a lot.
- Portable power (not yet mainstream phones): The first sodium-ion power banks hit the market in 2025. They’re tougher in the cold and last for thousands of cycles, but they’re heavier than similar lithium models. That’s why we’re seeing power banks and portable power stations first, not slim smartphones.
- Grid and home energy storage: European battery maker Northvolt has developed sodium-ion cells aimed at stationary storage—think solar-battery sheds and grid containers where weight isn’t a big problem, but cost and safety are.
The trade-offs vs lithium-ion
- Energy density: Today’s sodium-ion cells generally store less energy per kilogram than common lithium chemistries. Typical figures for sodium-ion are roughly 130–160 Wh/kg, while lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells often reach higher values. This means sodium-ion batteries are usually bigger or heavier for the same energy.
- Range and weight: Because of that lower energy density, a sodium-ion battery pack in a car will usually give shorter range unless you make the pack larger. For scooters, e-bikes, micro-cars, and campus shuttles, that’s often an acceptable trade-off.
- Cold performance: Many sodium-ion systems handle the cold better than typical lithium-ion. Recent products claim charging down to –15 °C and discharging to –25 °C—a clear advantage for winter.
- Maturity and scale: Lithium-ion has a huge head start, with massive factories worldwide. Sodium-ion lines are growing fast, but they’re still young. Analysts also warn the hype may run ahead of reality: sodium-ion is promising, but likely a niche alongside lithium for several years.
So… what are sodium-ion batteries good for in 2025?
- Urban runabouts and small EVs: Perfect for short daily trips where you want a safe, low-cost battery and don’t need 300+ miles of range.
- E-bikes, scooters, delivery trikes: Cheap, durable energy for last-mile deliveries and school commutes.
- Power banks and portable stations: Camping, festivals, STEM field trips—anywhere rugged, cold-proof power helps.
- Home and grid storage: When size and weight aren’t critical, sodium-ion’s safety and cost look great for storing solar energy for the evening.
What’s coming next?
Battery makers are racing to boost sodium-ion performance. In April 2025, the world’s biggest cell supplier announced a new sodium-ion brand with mass production planned for December 2025 and quoted ~175 Wh/kg—creeping towards today’s LFP cells. But even with that momentum, experts expect sodium-ion to grow alongside (not replace) lithium for years. The sweet spot remains low-cost, short-range, cold-tolerant uses.
Quick myth-busting
- “Sodium-ion kills lithium-ion.” No—each chemistry fits different jobs.
- “Phones will swap to sodium this year.” Unlikely. Thicker, heavier batteries are a tough sell inside slim phones; you’ll see sodium-ion first in accessories and portable power, not flagship handsets.
- “Sodium-ion can’t fast-charge.” It’s improving. Some products and prototypes charge very quickly, and cold-weather charging is a headline feature in 2025.
Reflection
If you had to choose a battery for a winter-proof school project—say, a sensor box that sits outside all week—would you pick the lightest option, or the one that keeps working in the cold even if it’s a bit heavier?