BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of electrified vehicles, has revealed that it has begun construction of its first sodium-ion battery factory in Xuzhou, China.
Although lithium remains the most popular technology in electric vehicles, the demand for more efficient materials and more sustainable alternatives for batteries has led BYD to invest in a sodium-ion battery factory, with an investment of around €1.3 million.
The new facility will have a production capacity of 30 GWh/year, equivalent to 1.5 million electric vehicles, making it one of the largest factories in the world.
To advance in this project, BYD turned to FinDreams, its battery specialized division, which partnered with Huaihai Holding Group to build the new gigafactory.
It is worth noting that sodium, one of the most common elements on Earth, can be seen as a viable alternative due to its low-cost solution as a complement to LFP batteries. Especially for compact vehicles or entry-level versions, due to its lower energy density.
The advantages of this technology recently led Chinese company JAC Motors, which is 75% owned by VW, to announce the start of production of the Yiwei EV, the first electric vehicle equipped with a sodium-ion battery.
