The breakthrough is coming. The Swedes started selling cheap batteries without nickel, lithium and cobalt

Batteries are definitely a bigger business today than you might think. They are crucial to the development not only of the automotive industry (and vehicles in general), but also of a huge number of smaller devices for both consumer and industrial applications. And in the distant future, maybe also for aviation. Especially since in less than three decades we (as the EU) should achieve climate neutrality.

However, the production and operation of batteries has its significant drawbacks. The two biggest are unsatisfactory energy density, which often causes huge battery packs to weigh not even hundreds, but thousands of kilograms, and the need to use key elements and metals that are difficult to access, very expensive and critical for the economy. Obtaining them is often not only problematic, but also harmful to the environment. However, there is a chance that at least some of these problems will be solved.

Swedish battery without lithium and cobalt. This is hope for a revolution

The Swedish company Northvolt, specializing in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, has just announced the introduction of a relatively new type of batteries to the market. This is the first commercially offered sodium-ion cell that does not contain lithium, cobalt or nickel – metals considered critical and for which car battery manufacturers are fighting. The technology for producing such a battery was developed in cooperation with the Altris research company, and the ingredients required in the production process are primarily iron and sodium, elements widely available almost all over the world.

Northvolt boasts that the sodium-ion battery is much safer for the environment and cheaper to produce than classic lithium-ion cells. It was developed with the aim of “expanding cost-effective and sustainable energy storage systems around the world.” It also has a decent energy density of over 160 watt-hours per kilogram, which is, however, a result inferior to that of traditional lithium-containing cells. At least for now.

The new battery is to be the basis for energy storage systems developed by Northvolt, which will ultimately be delivered to emerging markets – including: to India, Africa and the Middle East. Northvolt explains that thanks to low production costs and resistance to operation at very high temperatures, these cells will be perfect in such places.

Not for electric cars yet. But there will be another generation

Due to the relatively low energy density, electric car manufacturers will not use sodium-ion cells for now, which the Swedes are aware of. 160 Wh per kg is only slightly less than the result of batteries used in energy storage (on average 180 Wh per kg), but definitely less than the result of lithium-ion batteries in electric cars (250-300 Wh per kg).

However, Northvolt emphasizes that this is only the first generation of this technology. In the next years, the company will focus on increasing the density as much as possible so that sodium-ion batteries become a real alternative to, among others, lithium-ion equivalents in the automotive industry. However, the road will certainly not be easy. Cells currently used in the automotive industry translate into a range of cars of a maximum of 500-700 km. This is how far a Tesla Model S Plaid with a powerful 100 kWh battery can travel in practice.

Let’s hope the Swedes succeed, because the game is definitely worth the candle. Peter Carlsson, director and co-founder of Northvolt, said in an interview for “FT” that sodium-ion cell technology is already worth tens of billions of dollars. For us, its development may mean not only environmental benefits, but also lower prices (and better availability) of electric cars.