Sodium-Ion batteries for EVs

[ombugge]

A new model EV equipped with Sodium-Ion batteries soon to be rolling of the production line in China:

Volkswagen-backed JAC Yiwei EV powered by sodium-ion battery starts mass...

The Yiwei EV hatchback will have a cylindrical sodium-ion pack from Beijing-based HiNa Battery and adopt JAC’s UE (Unitized Encapsulation) module technology. UE is also known as a honeycomb design because of its appearance. It is another battery structure concept like CATL’s CTP (cell-to-pack) or BYD’s Blade battery:

Sodium-ion batteries are expected to play an essential role in the battery mix in the future. Their best-case use is stationary energy storage, two-wheelers, and entry-level EVs. They are cheaper than LFP, don’t need lithium, and perform better in winter conditions. On the other hand, they have lower energy density. In China, many automakers are pushing into sodium-ion development; BYD recently announced a 30 GWh sodium battery plant in Xuzhou in a joint venture with tricycle giant Huaihai Group. The total investment reaches 10 billion yuan (1.4 billion USD). Another player is CATL, which has already shown us some prototypes but hasn’t announced the mass production plans yet. We will keep an eye on it.

Anybody know whether Sodium-Ion batteries are susceptible to spontaneous ignition and/or less difficult to extinguish than Lithium-Ion batteries?