China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (“Sinopec“) and LG Chem have signed a joint development agreement to advance critical materials for sodium-ion batteries.
The collaboration will focus on developing cathode and anode materials targeting applications in low-speed electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) in China and global markets.
Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a complementary technology to lithium-ion systems, offering advantages in raw material availability, cost efficiency, and low-temperature performance. Their chemistry provides improved safety and faster charging characteristics, making them suitable for use in smaller EV platforms, grid-scale storage, and future applications where lithium supply or cost constraints present challenges.
While the partnership primarily targets the Chinese market, sodium-ion battery advancements are being closely watched by North American and European battery developers exploring diversification beyond lithium-ion.
Progress in materials development from collaborations such as this could influence global supply chains and future battery strategies for affordable mobility and stationary storage.
Industry research projects China’s sodium-ion battery capacity to grow from 10 GWh in 2025 to 292 GWh by 2034, with the region expected to account for over 90% of global production by the end of the decade.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News