In February 2023, HiNa surprised many by unveiling their lineup of sodium-ion battery cells alongside a prototype of an electric car.
However, this unveiling was the culmination of extensive efforts and planning. One notable application of these sodium-ion cells is in the low-cost Sehol E10X microcar, which features a 25 kWh battery pack sourced from HiNa.
The company took a significant step towards mass production by commissioning its first 1 GWh/year production line in December 2022. This facility is just the beginning, with plans in place to establish five similar production lines.
Additionally, there are plans for another facility capable of producing 30 GWh/year, indicating HiNa’s commitment to scaling up its battery manufacturing capacity. Moreover, the company aims to expand its reach by licensing the production of these batteries to other manufacturers.
Na-ion batteries, also known as sodium-ion batteries, SIBs, or NISBs, are a class of rechargeable batteries that use sodium ions (Na+) as its charge carriers. While the intercalating ion in these batteries is sodium rather than lithium, their operating principle and cell design are sometimes comparable to those of lithium-ion battery (LIB) types. Sodium shares chemical properties with lithium since they are members of the same group in the periodic table. But occasionally, they differ greatly from Li-ion batteries (as with aqueous Na-ion batteries).
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