LG Energy Solution is set to begin production of sodium-ion batteries this year, potentially shaking up the market led by China. According to industry sources on the 20th, LG Energy Solution is pushing ahead with the establishment of a pilot production line for sodium-ion batteries at its Nanjing plant in China. This move aims to verify mass production feasibility by constructing a pilot line that can validate production scalability.
Following research and development (R&D) of next-generation batteries at the Daejeon Institute of Technology, LG Energy Solution will produce A samples at its facility in Ochang, which serves as a key production site. Subsequent B samples (finished products) and C samples (mass production-ready products) will be manufactured at the Nanjing plant.
It is also observed that a pilot line for sodium-ion batteries will be established at the Nanjing plant. As China leads the way in sodium-ion batteries, the move is seen as an effort to promote local production, taking advantage of a well-established supply chain for materials including cathode materials.
LG Energy Solution is reportedly aiming to complete the pilot line by the end of the year and commence sample production, accelerating the commercialization of next-generation batteries. An official from LG Energy Solution stated, "Various options are being considered for the establishment of a pilot line for sodium-ion batteries, but there is no confirmed plan yet."
Sodium-ion batteries, which use sodium as a raw material classified as a common resource compared to lithium, offer advantages such as easy sourcing and competitive pricing due to sodium's abundance, which is more than 1,000 times that of lithium. Additionally, they exhibit minimal performance degradation at low temperatures and high thermal stability.
Currently, China is leading the way in this field. Cukai Highna unveiled the first electric vehicle prototype with sodium-ion batteries in 2023, while companies such as CATL and Farasis have also successfully developed them. CATL plans to mass-produce the second-generation sodium-ion battery 'Nastra', which can drive 520 kilometers on a 5-minute charge, as announced last year.
In South Korea, sodium-ion batteries have not yet been commercialized. LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On are in the R&D stage for sodium-ion batteries. LG Energy Solution is actively developing next-generation batteries such as solid-state, lithium-sulfur, bipolar, and sodium-ion batteries.
An industry official emphasized the importance of securing material supply chains, particularly cathode materials, for the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries. They noted that while high process costs are a drawback, there are still challenges to be addressed in overcoming this issue.