They arent all alike, and manufacturers use a range of different kinds of batteries.
But before we begin, lets brush up the basics we need to know.
How do the battery types differ?
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In contrast, the solid electrolytes of solid-state batteries are more stable and significantly reduce the risk of fire.
Winner: Sodium-ion batteries
2.
Energy density and charging time
Sodium-ion batteries come up a bit short here.
Thats actually on par with lithium-ion batteries currently on the market, rangingfrom 140 Wh/kg to 240Wh/kg.
But is it good enough to replace lithium batteries completely?
No, it isnt.
Solid-state batteries are the biggest competitor here.
Winner: Solid-state batteries
3.
Sustainability
Here we have the battle of the elements: lithium vs sodium.
Lithium is a relatively rare element on Earth and its increasing demand doesnt come without an environmental impact.
Plus, its extraction doesnt come with the same environmental concerns.
Price
Sodiums abundance naturally makes it a less expensive option.
It also costs less to extract and purify.
On top of that, sodium-ion cells can be made with ample metals such as iron and manganese.
The most costly option seems to be solid-state batteries, because solid electrolytes are more expensive to produce.
And the winner is…
Sodium-ion batteries!
These are followed by solid-state batteries in second place, and lithium-ion batteries in third place.
In case youre sad about lithiums loss, theres no reason to be just yet.
Sodium-ion and solid-state batteries are still under development and certainly have some years ahead before they can be commercialized.
Its also possible that usingrecycled lithium-ion batterieswill turn out to be the mainstream option by that time.
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW.
With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
