Sodium-ion batteries for automotive power applications

A consortium of car manufacturers, chemical companies, and battery developers is building a 12-volt sodium-ion battery to replace the lead-acid battery that powers lights, security systems, and battery management in electrified vehicles. This matters because lead-acid batteries are heavy and bulky, while lithium-ion alternatives are expensive and rely on less sustainable materials. Sodium-ion chemistry uses cheaper, more abundant materials and performs similarly to lithium-ion, but no commercial sodium-ion battery has yet been proven for this specific automotive role. If the project succeeds, Jaguar Land Rover could fit lighter, smaller, and comparably priced auxiliary batteries into its electric vehicles. That would reduce overall vehicle weight and free up space for other components. The supply chain would also shift away from lithium and toward sodium, a material far more abundant and geographically widespread. The consortium—including Croda for electrolyte additives, Talga for carbon anodes, Faradion for cell design, and Warwick University for pilot manufacturing—covers the full development pipeline from chemistry to production. The work is applied and targeted: a direct replacement for an existing component, not fundamental science.