What makes NCM sodium-ion cylindrical cells unique in battery technology?

Finding a reliable, cost-effective, and safe battery is a constant challenge. Old technologies have high material costs and supply chain risks. NCM sodium-ion cells offer a powerful new solution.

NCM sodium-ion cells are unique because they combine the high energy density of NCM cathodes with the low cost of sodium. This creates a superior balance of performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

I remember a client from Germany asking us about sodium-ion last year. He was skeptical about its performance. But after we showed him our test data, his perspective changed completely. Let’s explore why.

How does the NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese) cathode work in a sodium-ion battery?

The cathode is the heart of a battery. Understanding how this part works is key to seeing the real value of the technology. Let’s look inside.

In an NCM sodium-ion battery¹, the layered NCM cathode acts as a host for sodium ions. During discharge, sodium ions move from the anode to the cathode, and electrons flow to create power.

The process is very similar to its lithium-ion counterpart, but the details are what make it special. The structure of the cathode material is designed specifically to handle the larger size of sodium ions.

The Layered Structure

The cathode material in our NCM sodium-ion cells has a specific layered crystal structure². Think of it like a bookshelf. The shelves are layers of nickel, cobalt, and manganese oxides. The sodium ions are like books that can slide in and out easily. This design allows for efficient movement of ions.

The Role of Each Metal

Each metal in the NCM trio plays a critical part. It’s a team effort.

• Nickel (Ni)³: This is the primary driver of capacity. More nickel generally means the battery can store more energy. We work to maximize the nickel content while maintaining stability.
• Cobalt (Co)⁴: Cobalt helps stabilize the layered structure. It prevents the "bookshelf" from collapsing after many charge and discharge cycles. This improves the battery’s lifespan.
• Manganese (Mn)⁵: Manganese improves safety and lowers cost. It has excellent thermal stability⁶, which reduces the risk of overheating.

Here is a simple comparison of how NCM works in the two battery types.

Why choose sodium over lithium for cylindrical automotive cells?

Lithium has dominated the market for years. So, why are we at JUNDA so excited about sodium? The reasons are practical, powerful, and look toward the future.

The main reasons are cost and resource availability. Sodium is thousands of times more abundant than lithium. This reduces raw material costs and eliminates supply chain bottlenecks, making batteries more sustainable.

For our B2B partners, like e-bike assembly factories and distributors, a stable supply chain is everything. Relying on lithium has become a major business risk for many. Sodium solves this problem directly.

Abundance and Cost

Sodium is one of the most common elements on Earth. It’s in seawater and salt deposits everywhere. Lithium, on the other hand, is much rarer and concentrated in a few countries. This difference has a huge impact on price.

Geopolitical Stability

The concentration of lithium mining creates geopolitical risks. Supply can be disrupted by trade policies or regional instability. Our clients in the EU and North America feel this pain point. Sodium’s wide availability makes the supply chain more secure and predictable. You can source it locally in many regions.

Environmental Impact

Extracting lithium from brine pools uses massive amounts of water. Hard-rock mining is also energy-intensive. While sodium extraction has its own footprint, it is generally considered to have a less severe environmental impact⁷ due to its easy accessibility.

What safety advantages do sodium-ion cells offer compared to lithium-ion?

For our customers, especially e-bike repair shops, safety is never negotiable. This is where sodium-ion technology truly shines and gives us confidence in our products.

Sodium-ion cells have better thermal stability and are less prone to thermal runaway. They can also be safely discharged to zero volts for transport, which significantly reduces shipping and handling risks.

We’ve all seen news reports about lithium-ion battery fires. As a manufacturer, our top priority is preventing that. The fundamental chemistry of sodium-ion gives us a big head start.

Thermal Stability Explained

Thermal runaway happens when a cell overheats, causing a chain reaction that can lead to fire or explosion. Sodium-ion chemistry is simply less reactive. The bonds within the materials are stronger. This means the cell can handle higher temperatures before it becomes unstable.

Zero-Volt Discharge Capability

This is a huge advantage for logistics and safety. You can discharge a sodium-ion battery to 0 volts without damaging the internal structure. A lithium-ion battery would be permanently damaged. For our distributor partners, this means they can ship our batteries in a completely inert state. This dramatically lowers the risk and cost of transport.

Short-Circuit Tolerance

In our own lab tests, we’ve seen how well these cells handle abuse.
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Even when a short circuit occurs, the temperature rise is slower and more controllable than in many lithium-ion cells.

How do cylindrical sodium-ion cells perform under high C-rate discharges?

Performance under pressure is what separates good batteries from great ones. How do these new cells handle the rapid power demands of an e-bike or scooter motor?

Cylindrical sodium-ion cells show excellent high C-rate performance. The sodium ions move efficiently, allowing for rapid charging and discharging with less heat generation and capacity fade than some alternatives.

For an e-bike rider, this means strong acceleration without worrying about damaging the battery. For our assembly factory clients, it means our battery packs can be paired with powerful motors.

What is C-Rate?

C-rate measures the speed at which a battery is discharged. 1C means the battery is fully discharged in one hour. 5C means it’s discharged in 12 minutes (1/5th of an hour). A higher C-rate means more power is being delivered.

Impact on Capacity and Heat

All batteries lose some effective capacity at very high discharge rates. But sodium-ion cells hold up very well. The internal resistance is low, which means less energy is wasted as heat. Less heat means better efficiency and a longer life for the battery.

Here’s a look at typical performance.

This stable performance at high C-rates is a key reason why we believe sodium-ion is a perfect fit for the light electric vehicle market⁸. It delivers the power users need without compromising on safety or lifespan.

Conclusion

NCM sodium-ion cells offer a unique mix of low cost, high safety, and strong performance. They are a game-changing technology for the future of electric mobility.