Sodium-ion batteries: CATL reignites the debate at the ECAR Show Auto Radio

There is a new technology that could be a genuine game-changer for cheaper electric cars: sodium-ion batteries.

Although they are not a new invention, the chances of them replacing the more widespread lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles were long seen as slim - until now. CATL has put them back at the heart of the conversation.

Sodium-ion batteries: what CATL has just announced

The Chinese giant has recently announced that it will begin mass production of sodium batteries for electric cars. On paper, they offer competitive performance compared with LFP lithium-ion batteries, while also coming with the promise of a much lower price per kWh.

With that in mind, we could not let the subject pass without proper attention. On Saturday, 24 May, at 18:15, at the ECAR Show - Hybrid and Electric Motor Show, you will be able to watch a live recording of another episode of Auto Radio, the Automotive Reason podcast, supported by Indicator.

Guest: Dr Helena Braga on batteries (and what comes next)

Under the theme “Cheaper and without lithium. Will sodium batteries change electric cars?”, our guest will be Dr Helena Braga, a researcher at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, and one of the international reference figures in battery development.

She will help us understand why sodium could be the missing ingredient that makes electric cars more affordable.

This is not the first time we have invited Dr Helena Braga onto our Auto Radio podcast to discuss the rapid progress being made in battery technology. The Portuguese researcher has stood out for her work with solid electrolytes (solid-state batteries), a technology that also promises to transform the batteries of the future.

Her research drew the attention of John Goodenough (1922–2023) - Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate and one of the inventors of the lithium-ion battery - with whom she later collaborated on solid-state battery research.

More recently, she presented an innovative battery that can recharge itself using sodium ions (salt). That was the topic that inspired our first Auto Radio live event.

Come and watch live

As noted above, this will be a podcast recorded live on Saturday, 24 May, at 18:15, at the ECAR Show, on the Auto Talks stage. It is an opportunity worth taking.

Audience attendance is free, but you must obtain a daily invitation. This invitation grants access to the Auto Talks area, where the podcast will be recorded, but it does not replace an ECAR Show entry ticket. Get your invitation now.

Please note: access to the stage is subject to available capacity at the time you enter, so we recommend arriving a little early.

ECAR Show dates, venue and ticket prices

The ECAR Show runs from 23 to 25 May at FIL (Lisbon International Fair), open from 10:00 to 20:00 each day.

Tickets are available on the event’s official website and cost €10 per person. Until 22 May, they can be purchased for €9. Entry is free for children up to 12 years old. Tickets are available via the event’s official website.

Updated on 22 May: the time of Auto Radio was changed to 18:15.