Several US companies are pursuing sodium ion battery manufacturing as part of an effort to bring battery production back to the country. San Diego-based Unigrid, which sells nine kilowatt hour home batteries, has begun shipping units internationally, with particular demand from European markets this summer. The company’s sodium ion technology offers potential advantages over traditional lithium ion batteries, including lower manufacturing costs and the ability to operate in extreme temperatures, though the technology remains less energy-dense than lithium alternatives.
Sodium ion batteries have generated interest among energy storage experts due to their potential for significantly reduced costs compared to lithium ion. Unlike lithium ion production, which is heavily dominated by China across manufacturing and supply chains, sodium ion batteries could theoretically be produced entirely within the United States using domestically sourced materials. Currently, most US companies in this space are still sourcing sodium ion cells from China while developing their domestic capabilities.
However, technical and safety questions persist around sodium ion battery design. Some researchers have raised concerns about certain cathode materials, particularly regarding potential toxicity risks. Unigrid uses chromium-3 in its cathode, which some experts worry could form chromium-6, a toxic substance, under certain conditions. Unigrid disputes these concerns, noting that its batteries have passed European safety certifications and third-party testing has not successfully triggered chromium-6 formation, even under extreme charging conditions.
Multiple startups are pursuing different approaches to sodium ion technology. Emerald Battery Labs, based in Seattle, is developing auxiliary batteries for commercial vehicle fleets, with plans to eventually develop US-based anode production. Peak Energy announced a partnership with General Motors in June to develop a domestic supply chain, targeting a US production facility in Michigan by the end of 2028. Current pricing for sodium ion batteries remains slightly higher than some lithium alternatives, though cost reductions are expected as the technology matures and manufacturing scales up.
Industry analysts project that sodium ion batteries will primarily serve larger energy storage applications rather than consumer electronics, where their lower energy density compared to lithium is a significant limitation. Growing electricity demands from data centers are cited as one factor driving US companies’ confidence that they can compete in this emerging market segment.
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