German battery developer Nacelle has launched a pilot production line for sodium-ion batteries. Nacelle claims to be the first company to produce the technology in its own facilities in Germany rather than in research institutes. The aim is to demonstrate that the technology is ready for industrial application.
Requiring less energy to manufacture
According to the battery developer, sodium-ion batteries have several advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries, being safer and requiring less energy to manufacture. They are also considered to be more tolerant of overcharging and deep discharging, which contributes to longer life and greater reliability. In addition, because sodium is abundant, it is less expensive to source than lithium. Nacelleʼs new cells are said to perform similarly to lithium iron phosphate batteries.
First deliveries to test customers in 2025
Nacelle plans to complete and commission the pouch cell pilot line in the coming months, aiming to switch production to larger battery cells and continuously increase capacity. The goal is to optimize the technology and make it available for a wide range of applications. Trial customers are expected to start using the cells in 2025, followed by wider deployment in 2026.
