[REVISION HISTORY]

Alternative battery chemistries for EVs and energy storage

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2026-09-28 19:29 UTC → 2026-10-08 08:59 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By late August 2026, technical advancements focused on material stability, such as the “in situ surface repair strategy” developed at Sun Yat-sen University. This momentum continued into early September with significant industrial and scientific developments. In the industrial sector, CATL and HyperStrong signed a three-year, 60 GWh supply agreement to accelerate the commercialization of sodium-ion technology. HyperStrong CEO Jianhui Zhang stated that these batteries are intended to complement lithium-based systems by targeting utility-scale storage, data centers, and “AI + energy” infrastructure. Scientific research has also yielded breakthroughs in energy density and material composition. Researchers at the University of Surrey developed an experimental battery using nanostructured hydrated sodium vanadate (NVOH), which integrates water molecules to facilitate sodium-ion movement, potentially doubling the charge capacity of reference materials. Additionally, this NVOH material may assist in seawater desalination. Further addressing the energy density gap, researchers in China implemented an iron-mediated strategy using a manganese-magnesium-iron layered oxide cathode. This approach improved the reversibility of lattice-oxygen redox reactions, resulting in a pouch cell with an energy density of 206 Wh/kg, helping to mitigate capacity loss during cycling. On September 16, 2026, CATL expanded its commercial footprint by launching the TENER Sodium energy storage system in Munich, Germany. This marks the first commercial-scale grid application of sodium-ion technology. On September 18, 2026, Chinese manufacturer Hithium unveiled its ∞Power 4 MWh sodium-ion energy storage system. By late September 2026, China further advanced its energy storage capabilities through regulatory shifts in Zhejiang province, where independent energy storage systems are being integrated directly into the power grid. Authorities have opened the market for direct delivery projects, transitioning to a bidding system based on price and quantity by January 1, 2027. In October 2026, sodium-ion technology began transitioning into a commercial reality within the United States energy storage market.

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