German Scientists Boost Sodium Battery Power Nearly 4x

Scientists in Germany just solved a puzzle that's been holding back one of the most promising alternatives to today's electric car batteries.

Researchers at Germany's Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing discovered how to make sodium-ion batteries work almost four times better than before. They did it by adding a thin layer of activated carbon to protect the battery's core.

Sodium-ion batteries have always had a big advantage over the lithium batteries in most electric cars today. They're made from abundant, non-toxic materials that don't catch fire. The problem was that during manufacturing, the battery would lose most of its storage capacity before it even left the factory.

The German team figured out why. When these batteries are made, liquid electrolyte seeps into tiny pores in the carbon anode, taking up space meant for storing energy. It's like guests showing up early and sitting in all the wrong seats.

Their solution works like a filter. The activated carbon coating lets sodium ions pass through to the storage area while keeping the electrolyte out. This raised efficiency from just 18 percent to 82 percent in their tests.

The timing couldn't be better. Chinese battery giant CATL announced this year that it will soon produce sodium-ion batteries for electric cars with 310 miles of range. Several Chinese companies already sell small electric vehicles and scooters powered by sodium batteries.

The Ripple Effect

This breakthrough matters beyond just making better batteries. Because sodium batteries don't catch fire, they're perfect for battery swapping stations where drivers can exchange a dead battery for a charged one in minutes. These stations can also store energy for the power grid during emergencies or peak demand times.

Cities especially benefit from this safety advantage. Fire risk has always been a concern when storing large battery systems in crowded urban areas. Sodium batteries eliminate that worry while providing the same grid storage benefits.

American companies are paying attention too. Startup Peak Energy is already working on sodium battery systems for utility-scale energy storage. The Department of Energy's Grid Storage Launchpad is helping speed up development of new storage technologies like these.

The breakthrough shows how one simple innovation can unlock an entire technology that's been waiting in the wings for years.