Reading time: 2 minutes
SIBs stand out due to their lower costs, the wide availability of sodium, and their environmentally friendly characteristics. Compared to LIBs, they are safer, particularly in terms of thermal stability, and are easier to recycle. However, they currently face limitations such as lower energy density, which leads to shorter driving ranges, larger weight and volume, and a shorter cycle life, although ongoing R&D is steadily improving these aspects.
By 2030, SIBs are projected to capture around five percent of the global EV battery market. Growth will be strongest in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in China and India, where affordable mobility solutions are a key priority. Two- and three-wheelers, mini-EVs, and urban fleet vehicles are expected to be the first large-scale applications. In Europe and the US, adoption will be more limited, focusing primarily on low-cost fleet vehicles.
Beyond mobility, SIBs also show strong potential in industrial and grid applications, such as large-scale energy storage, renewable integration, and backup systems, as well as in consumer solutions like power banks, solar-powered kits, and rural electrification.
Major companies such as CATL, BYD, and HiNa in China, Northvolt in Sweden, Tiamat in France, and Natron Energy in the US are investing heavily in SIB development and commercialization. China currently dominates the field with massive production capacity, while Europe, the US, and Japan are pushing to establish local value chains to reduce dependency on lithium.
In the near term, SIBs will mainly serve niche markets like affordable EVs and stationary energy storage. Medium term, improvements in energy density and charging speed could broaden their application to wider mobility segments. In the long term, SIBs are expected to become a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective complement to lithium-ion batteries, helping to reduce reliance on critical raw materials.
