BYD Unveils Sodium Ion Batteries with 10,000 Cycle Lifespan
The Chinese car manufacturer BYD has introduced new sodium ion battery technology which the company says will allow batteries to last for more than 1 million charging cycles which was previously thought to be impossible for automotive batteries.
The new BYD sodium ion batteries can handle 10,000 complete charging and discharging processes. The new technology exceeds all existing market benchmarks. The standard lithium iron phosphate LFP battery provides between 2,000 to 3,000 charging cycles. The 10,000 cycle lifespan was previously only available for stationary energy storage systems which were used in advanced power systems and not for electric vehicle applications.
BYD has reached its third sodium ion development phase after achieving this milestone. The engineers worked on two main chemical problems.
The team developed new strategies which stopped sodium accumulation from occurring because this accumulation would harm battery performance over time. The scientists developed new chemical materials which could endure extreme temperatures for extended periods while preserving their original power capacity. The batteries provide extended operational life yet their power capacity remains unaffected by extreme cold which solves one of the biggest challenges faced by electric vehicle drivers who live in northern territories.
BYD is working on sodium ion technology development while it continues to develop its lithium battery production process. The company is developing sulfide solid state electrolytes at this time. The 2027 production schedule includes small scale manufacturing for these solid state products. The batteries will provide multiple benefits when compared to liquid electrolyte systems.
Electric vehicles will achieve longer driving distances. The battery pack weight has decreased. The system now provides better thermal protection which improves operational safety. The dual strategy combines two approaches which research sodium ion cells to their full cost effective efficiency while developing premium solid state technology solutions.
