# The promise and perils of sodium-ion batteries

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2025-02-20
- Length: 44m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-02-20-the-promise-and-perils-of-sodium-ion-batteries

## Summary

Adrian Yao, founder of Stanford’s STEER program and former CTO of EnPower, explains why sodium-ion batteries face significant cost challenges despite their supply chain benefits. He details how lower energy density increases material intensity, making current sodium-ion cells more expensive than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Yao argues that achieving competitiveness requires major R&D breakthroughs in materials and cell architecture, such as anode-free designs, rather than just scaling production. The discussion highlights the strategic role of Chinese manufacturers like CATL and BYD in keeping lithium prices low by maintaining sodium-ion as a viable alternative.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-02-20-the-promise-and-perils-of-sodium-ion-batteries#t=35) Introduction: Catalyst and Sodium-Ion Overview
- [5:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-02-20-the-promise-and-perils-of-sodium-ion-batteries#t=324) Adrian Yao Explains Sodium-Ion Battery Structure and Chemistries
- [11:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-02-20-the-promise-and-perils-of-sodium-ion-batteries#t=668) Theoretical Benefits: Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Safety
- [23:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-02-20-the-promise-and-perils-of-sodium-ion-batteries#t=1399) Cost Analysis: Material Intensity vs. Dollar per Kilowatt Hour
- [33:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-02-20-the-promise-and-perils-of-sodium-ion-batteries#t=2028) Future Roadmaps: Anode-Free Cells and Competitiveness with LFP
- [40:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-02-20-the-promise-and-perils-of-sodium-ion-batteries#t=2434) The Chinese Market: CATL, BYD, and Geopolitical Strategy

## Topics

- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Natron (company)
- Peak Energy (company)
- Bedrock Materials (company)
- Acculon Energy (company)
- CATL (company)
- BYD (company)
- EnPower (company)
- STEER (other)
- Stanford (other)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Antenna Group (company)

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- [Supercharging Lithium-Ion Batteries with Gene Berdichevsky of Sila Nanotechnologies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-03-07-supercharging-lithium-ion-batteries-with-gene-berdichevsky-of-sila-nanotechnolog) (How I Built This)
- [3D electrodes for Next Generation Batteries with Moshiel Biton, CEO and Co-founder of Addionics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-10-13-3d-electrodes-for-next-generation-batteries-with-moshiel-biton-ceo-and-co-founde) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Road trip to the deep space network](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-04-17-road-trip-to-the-deep-space-network) (The Amp Hour)
- [Sipping Coulombs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-04-23-sipping-coulombs) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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