RE: Another great article for DGI in today’s Telegraph17 Dec 2023 10:37
Part 2 of Telegraph article
It is this ease of availability that prompted DG Innovate’s push into sodium electric car batteries, as investors look to meet demand as the world switches away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Bardenfleth-Hansen also highlights the importance of reducing Europe’s reliance on lithium mines in China.
“The necessity to move away from China, or basically anything that’s controlled outside of Europe, has obviously become very clear over the past couple of years,” explains Bardenfleth-Hansen.
‘You want to have that chemistry in your pocket, just in case the price of lithium will go up again’
The batteries that dominate today’s mobile phone and car batteries use lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC). However, developers have reduced reliance on cobalt because it is expensive and mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where practices have been criticised for alleged use of child labour.
Greater scrutiny has also been placed on the use of nickel because of sharp price rises in recent years.
A cheaper alternative to also emerge for car batteries of late has been lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which makes use of iron and phosphates.
Its popularity has soared after Musk said he would launch new Tesla models using LFP.
Understanding the difference in their capabilities is key. For example, NMC batteries offer about 250 watt-hours per kilogram, while LFP provides a rate of 200. By contrast, sodium cells provide up to 160.
These variations in power are reflected in the cost, as NMC batteries are valued at around $120 (£95) to $170 per kilowatt hour, while LFP costs up to $110.
Once sodium battery technology matures, it is expected to cost around the same as the latter – but perhaps even cheaper, says Dr Chris Jones, strategic trends manager at the UK’s advanced propulsion centre, which distributes government funding.
That is despite warnings that other costs linked to its manufacturing could mean only $10-20 is ultimately shaved off its price per kilowatt hour.
Sign In
Follow the stocks
