Germany to develop sodium-ion battery technology

Market: Battery materials
02/10/24

A German consortium of 15 working groups led by battery supplier Varta has started development of industrial-scale sodium-ion battery technology, as Europe looks to compete with China on the next battery chemistry set to reach commercial production.

The consortium has officially started development on the Entise project, after gaining approval and €7.5mn ($8.31mn) of investment from Germany's education and research ministry in May.

The EU has funded several other sodium-ion initiatives, including the €925mn public-private BATT4EU project, which launched in 2021 to drive battery research and innovation. A undisclosed portion of BATT4EU funding has been dedicated to sodium-ion batteries.

And the European Commission has invested €8mn each in two projects — SIMBA and NAIMA — which are both made up of consortiums looking to bring sodium-ion battery technology closer to production.

Some companies are also making investments without public funding, with Swedish battery producers Northvolt and Altris and US firm Fluor leading the way on commitments — although sluggish international demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has disrupted progress. Weak demand for EVs and low prices for battery materials have weighed on battery makers' revenues, reducing the incentive for research and development into future battery chemistries, such as sodium-ion batteries.

Germany is set to account for 21pc of Europe's lithium-ion battery production capacity by 2030 — the largest share of any country in the region (see graph), ahead of Hungary at 16pc and France at 13pc, according to UK government-funded research group the Faraday Institution.

China leads the way

China is the region with the most lithium-ion battery production capacity at present, and is set to have 395GW of capacity, or 52pc of the global total, by 2030, according to energy watchdog the IEA. And some Chinese firms are also turning to sodium-ion batteries, with the world's largest EV maker BYD and technology firm Huaihai signing a contract late last year to build a 30 GWh/yr sodium-ion battery plant.

Sodium-ion batteries are expected to account for less than 1pc of global battery demand by 2030, according to the IEA (see chart). They are set to be used in a range of applications, from grid-scale storage and transport, to consumer electronics, industry, aerospace and defence. And sodium-ion batteries could potentially power products including toothbrushes, mobile phones and EVs.

Sodium-ion batteries are slightly bigger but potentially cheaper to produce than lithium-ion batteries. The anode is made from hard carbon, which can be manufactured from wood or biowaste, while the cathode can be made from Prussian white, which contains iron — a cheap and abundant metal.

By Chris Welch

European lithium-ion gigafactory capacity to 2030 GWh

European lithium-ion gigafactory capacity forecast, 2030 pc

Global EV battery production, as per stated policies TWh

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12/06/25

Brazil BEV sales hit record high in May

Sao Paulo, 12 June (Argus) — Brazilian battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales reached an all-time monthly high of 6,969 units in May because of improving charging infrastructure and greater consumer familiarity with the vehicles, according to the Brazilian EV association ABVE. After four months of below-average BEV sales in Brazil — driven by record-high consumer demand for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) — sales of fully electric models rebounded in May, rising by 35pc from a year earlier. Sequentially, BEV sales surged 48.2pc from April's 4,702 units, ABVE data showed. In May, fully electric vehicle sales grew in all but two states compared with April. The Northeastern region, characterized by less-developed charging infrastructure outside major urban centers, saw the highest monthly growth. Sales rose by 59pc to 1,665 units in May from the prior month, according to data from ABVE. Chinese automaker BYD further increased its dominance in the Brazilian EV market, accounting for 5,596 units sold, more than 80pc of all BEV sales in May. Volvo and fellow Chinese producer Great Wall Motors (GWM) closed out the top three at 514 and 181 units, respectively. BYD does not see this spike as a seasonal or isolated phenomenon, but as a new reality in the Brazilian auto market, which is getting used to EVs, according to the company's senior VP in Brazil, Alexandre Baldy. "We are increasingly growing our dealership network in Brazil at 180 stores," Baldy told Argus on Thursday. "We'll reach 272 stores by the end of the year, solidifying our presence in all regions of the country." Between April and May, BYD opened 15 new dealerships, focusing on more remote regions such as the Midwest and Northeast. ABVE cited, in a release, the scaling of new brands and models, along with improving charging infrastructure, as reasons for the high demand for rechargeable vehicles, such as BEVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Rechargeable vehicles make up 87pc of all EVs in Brazil, according to ABVE. May was the first full month for two Chinese carmakers that recently debuted in Brazil: Omoda and Jaecoo, both subsidiaries of the Chery Auto Group, which has been in the country since 2009. The brands share dealerships, with Omoda marketing BEVs and Jaecoo aiming for the PHEV market. They sold a combined 398 units, according to Fenabrave, a private body that represents car dealerships in Brazil. Hybrid vehicle sales keep growing HEV sales continued to grow at a strong pace in May, rising by 81pc to 15,160 units over the year. Sequentially, HEV demand nudged up 1.5pc from April's 14,927 units. Brazilian consumers tend to prefer hybrids — plug-in or not — because of the lack of charging infrastructure outside of major urban centers, although PHEVs are the preferred choice because of their flexibility to alternate between a fully electric driving experience and a regular, gas-powered one. May's PHEV sales rose by 95.2pc over the year but fell 4.2pc sequentially from April because of the shift in demand towards BEVs. Total EV sales in Brazil — encompassing BEVs and HEVs — hit 22,101 units in May, a 63.3pc increase over the year and up by 12.7pc from April. EVs make up 13.2pc of Brazil's total car market. HEVs: Fiat tops BYD as best-selling brand In May, Fiat overtook BYD as the best-selling HEV brand in Brazil, marking the first time since July 2024 that the Chinese automaker has lost the top spot in the market. Fiat, which debuted in the HEV market in November 2024, quickly took advantage of its status as a traditional, well-known brand among Brazilian consumers to become a leader in the segment. It sold 4,299 hybrid units in May, besting BYD's 3,702, according to data from Fenabrave. HEV sales for the Italian automaker rose by 9pc in May from the previous month, pushing its market share to 28.3pc. BYD, meanwhile, saw its HEV sales drop by over 1,000 units in May from the prior month, as demand shifted towards its fully electric models, which posted record sales. Despite the monthly decline, BYD's HEV sales were up 137pc on the year. The company held a 24.4pc market share in May — down 7.3 percentage points from 31.7pc in April. Fiat — a Stellantis subsidiary — markets two models of mild-hybrids (MHEVs), a regular internal combustion vehicle with a small 12V or 48V non-plug-in battery that assists the gas-powered engine and improves fuel efficiency. Despite the battery not powering the wheels, MHEVs are eligible for environmental tax exemptions and other governmental benefits just like more traditional EVs. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Q&A: Used vehicle demand in an electrified world

11/06/25

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11/06/25

Q&A: Used vehicle demand in an electrified world

London, 11 June (Argus) — Widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption is raising new questions about battery lifespan, resale value and smart charging habits. Argus spoke with Peter McDonald, director at UK charging technology firm Ohme, to discuss how home charging and battery health standards could shape EV demand. The role of Standardising State of Health (SOH) certification is often discussed as key to building trust in the used EV market. How will this impact European OEMs? Battery State of Health helps address information asymmetry in the used EV market. New BEVs typically come with generous warranties, giving first owners confidence. However, in mature markets, most vehicles are financed, with future value influencing lease rates and purchase prices. Since the battery is a major cost component, confidence in its long-term durability significantly affects a vehicle's lifecycle value. Buyers increasingly want not only a snapshot of battery health but also a forecast of its future condition. This is especially critical in markets like Europe, where consumer finance is tightly linked to vehicle purchases. As a result, battery durability may impact a vehicle's future value more than performance specs. OEMs are incentivised to encourage optimal charging habits to extend battery life. Batteries with high residual or scrap value may help offset concerns around SOH and depreciation. Ultimately, transparency in battery health and projected performance is becoming essential to maintaining confidence and value in the growing used EV market. What does a shift toward home charging mean for how and when batteries degrade and, by extension, demand for replacement cells or recycling? Discussions with OEMs suggest AC (slow) charging is better for battery health than DC (fast) charging. As a result, OEMs prefer customers to charge at home or work where possible, preserving battery longevity. Most early EV adopters—and around 16mn future UK households — can charge regularly at home or work, using DC fast charging occasionally for longer trips. Homes without off-street parking present challenges, but as demand grows, more scalable public charging solutions will emerge. Widespread home and workplace charging supports more consistent battery health, leading to higher resale values and lower new purchase costs. Improved durability also extends vehicle life, reduces warranty and maintenance issues, and delays battery recycling needs. We have seen carmakers are leaning on subsidised leasing to justify EV production volume. How does this distort demand and how should that shape investment in materials supply chains? Two key factors drive this: OEM commercial dynamics and government policy incentives. OEMs make inflexible production decisions and, to meet environmental regulations and attract investor confidence, many have committed to EV strategies. When EV supply exceeds demand, OEMs need demand levers. Lowering new vehicle prices is a blunt tool — most, except Tesla, avoid it as it directly impacts residual values. In Europe, government EV incentives have focused on benefit-in-kind tax reductions, encouraging businesses and drivers to choose EVs over ICE vehicles. Fleet channels, with less transparent and fluctuating lease rates, now dominate EV uptake. This has created polarised demand and fuelled the rise of salary sacrifice schemes, attracting retail-intent buyers into fleet. As a result, OEMs rely heavily on fleet sales, often via hidden discounts. Leasing companies have become major asset holders, concentrating EV ownership. Strong EV demand exists — at the right price. Given lease rates are tied to residual value, buyers act rationally. This places high importance on battery state of health and sustaining post-mobility battery value. What is Vehicle-to-Grid charging and how might that reshape the economics of battery packs, degradation rates, and materials circularity? There are major financial and carbon-saving opportunities when consumers charge during low grid demand. Charging overnight, or when supply exceeds demand, offers the lowest-cost, lowest-carbon charging. Companies like Ohme, in partnership with energy providers like Octopus, make this smart charging simple and seamless. Vehicle-to-Grid/House (V2X) technology offers even greater benefits. It allows customers to power their homes from their cars or profit from strategic charging and discharging — exporting energy back to the grid. While high upfront costs have limited adoption, many OEMs are now committing to vehicles with two-way inverters, making V2X primed for mass uptake. From a battery perspective, V2X can reduce charging costs, turn the EV into a grid asset, and enhance residual value — potentially increasing what consumers are willing to pay. It encourages EV adoption and aligns with home-based charging habits. At scale, V2X could reduce the need for separate home batteries and industrial grid storage, lowering overall battery demand across the supply chain. What challenges do carmakers and energy providers face in co-ordinating charging strategy and battery health? The worlds are different. Carmakers face high upfront costs, intense competition and uncertain demand as they invest heavily in building a global electrified fleet. In contrast, with a few notable exceptions, energy retailers are typically national heroes, focused on local, highly regulated markets. Collaboration between the two remains limited, despite clear mutual benefits: OEMs building great EVs, and energy providers supplying abundant, affordable power. Ultimately, my view is that OEMs may have the greater influence in shaping future standards, as they design vehicles for multiple markets and global requirements, while energy providers remain more locally constrained. By Chris Welch Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Korea's Samsung, Germany's Tesvolt sign battery deal

11/06/25

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11/06/25

Korea's Samsung, Germany's Tesvolt sign battery deal

Singapore, 11 June (Argus) — South Korean battery producer Samsung SDI has agreed to supply its battery products to German battery energy storage systems (BESS) manufacturer Tesvolt, with the potential for further negotiations for possible additional supply. Samsung SDI will begin with supplying its battery box 1.0 to Tesvolt from this month onwards, before switching the model to its upgraded battery box 1.5 in April-June 2026, said Samsung SDI on 11 June. Details such as supply volumes were undisclosed. Tesvolt last year secured an order for its BESS products and services to be used in a 65MWh battery storage park in Germany's Worms city. The order — Tesvolt's largest order ever — will see it supporting the project's development, supplying and installing the large-scale storage system, as well as providing service and maintenance for the storage power plant. Tesvolt uses Samsung SDI's lithium nickel-cobalt-aluminum cells in its storage systems. The lithium nickel-cobalt-aluminum cells have a higher energy density and an above-average efficiency when compared to lithium-iron-phosphate cells, said Tesvolt. Tesvolt started building a 4 GWh/yr BESS gigafactory in Germany in April last year, and it expects the factory to be able to produce up to 80,000 units/yr of BESS. The €30mn ($34mn) plant is expected to begin its commissioning this year. Tesvolt has been tasked with commissioning storage power plants with more than 40MWh of capacity across Germany and Sweden, it said in July last year. Samsung SDI has been competing head-to-head with fellow battery producer LG Energy Solutions in the US ESS market . It has secured orders for 90pc of its planned ESS battery production capacity this year, according to the firm. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Foreign-brand EV sales surge in Japan despite US tariff

05/06/25

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05/06/25

Foreign-brand EV sales surge in Japan despite US tariff

Tokyo, 5 June (Argus) — Japan's domestic sales of foreign-brand electric vehicles (EVs) sales surged in May, but the US' blanket 25pc tariff on automobiles had little impact on this, the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA) told Argus . Japan's domestic EV sales were largely stable in May from a year earlier at 3,791 units, according to data from three industry groups — the Automobile Dealers Association, the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association and JAIA. Sales of imported EVs surged by more than 60pc on the year to around 2,400 units in May. But this is not because of the US tariffs on automobiles, according to the representative of JAIA who spoke to Argus . There was some anticipation that a number of foreign EV producers, especially European manufacturers, may divert deliveries meant for the US to Japan, following the US' across-the-board tariff on automobile imports. But the tariff had almost no impact on May sales, the JAIA representative said, adding that JAIA's member firms including major European brands share a similar view. The increase in foreign-brand EV sales in May can be mostly attributed to robust demand from Japanese consumers, according to JAIA. Foreign manufactures including China's BYD, Germany's BMW, South Korea's Hyundai, and Sweden's Volvo reported a rise in sales, JAIA said. Tesla did not disclose its sales volumes in Japan. Demand for foreign-brand EVs has risen over the past year. Its share in total domestic EV sales jumped to 63pc in May from 39pc in the same period in 2024. Foreign-brand EVs gained popularity in the Japanese market mostly because they offer a wider variety of EV models compared with domestic manufacturers, according to JAIA. Meanwhile, the country's domestic brand EV sales stood at around 1,400 units in May, down sharply by around 40pc from a year earlier. This is partly driven by a decrease in sales of Nissan's Sakura, a top-selling domestic model, which almost halved on the year to 858 units. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Battery system integrator Powin faces closure

04/06/25

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04/06/25

Battery system integrator Powin faces closure

Houston, 4 June (Argus) — US battery energy storage system (BESS) integrator Powin warned it may need to fully shutdown operations and layoff 250 workers, including its chief executive. Powin's situation "remains dynamic and fluid," and it could shut down all business operations, including its Tualatin, Oregon, headquarters and Portland, Oregon, facility, according to a mandatory layoff notice sent to Oregon officials on 29 May. Powin has over 17,000MWh of energy storage systems deployed or under construction worldwide. Powin anticipates laying off approximately 250 employees — including the chief executive and chief financial officer — on or before 28 July, the notice said. While it is unclear whether the layoffs affect all employees, Powin said in the notice that none of its workers are unionized. The company has not yet replied to a request for comment. BESS' primarily uses lithium iron phosphate batteries made in China. Since Chinese producers typically price on an fob basis, US tariffs imposed on Chinese imports could cut profits for integrators such as Powin. By Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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