Sodium-Ion Batteries
Sodium-ion batteries store energy using sodium — one of the most abundant materials on earth — instead of scarce lithium and cobalt. The result is a battery that stays safe, performs in extreme cold, and treads lighter on the planet. AceOn has worked with sodium-ion since its earliest commercial days, and our StamiNa+ range brings that experience to power tools, off-grid solar, telecoms and backup power across the UK.
Alkali Metal
What Is a Sodium-Ion Battery?
It works just like the lithium battery in your phone or solar setup — only the charge carrier is different, and that one change rewrites the economics, safety and supply chain.
A sodium-ion battery moves charged sodium ions (Na⁺) between two electrodes to store and release energy. Swap lithium for sodium and you keep familiar lithium-style performance, but build the cell from materials that are abundant, cheap and free from the supply pressures around lithium, cobalt and nickel.
Sodium is the sixth most abundant element on earth and a main component of common salt. The cathode uses layered oxides, Prussian-blue or polyanionic compounds, while the anode is typically hard carbon — which can be made from bio-waste. No cobalt. No nickel. No scarce lithium.
The chemistry isn't new: it was researched in the 1970s alongside lithium, but lithium won the race on energy density when cost wasn't the priority. As lithium supply tightened from 2020, sodium-ion came surging back — and it's now shipping in real, commercial volumes.
An Honest Comparison
Neither chemistry wins on every axis. Here's a straight look at where sodium-ion leads — and where lithium iron phosphate (LFP) still holds the edge.
| Property | Sodium-Ion (Na⁺) | Lithium (LFP) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy density | 110–160 Wh/kg — larger for the same storage | 160–200 Wh/kg — more compact (LFP leads) |
| Cold weather | Charges to ~−20°C, discharges to ~−30°C; ~90% capacity at −40°C (Na leads) | Can't charge below 0°C without heating; ~50–60% capacity in deep cold |
| Safety | Very low thermal-runaway risk; ships safely at 0V (Na edge) | Also very safe — no thermal runaway, strong track record |
| Raw materials | Abundant sodium, iron, manganese; no cobalt/nickel (Na leads) | Lithium + iron phosphate + graphite |
| Cycle life | ~2,000–5,000+ cycles | ~3,000–10,000 cycles (LFP leads top-end) |
| Cost trajectory | ~30% cheaper raw materials; falling fast (Na advantage emerging) | Mature and already low-cost |
| Best suited to | Cold/outdoor, safety-critical, sustainability-led, space-tolerant builds | Maximum energy in minimum weight & space |
If weight and size are your hard limit, lithium still leads. If cold resilience, safety, sustainability or supply security matter more, sodium-ion is the smarter call — and that's exactly the space AceOn's StamiNa+ range is built for.
Three Advantages That Matter
The reasons specifiers are designing sodium-ion into real-world products today — not in five years' time.
Built for the Cold
Sodium-ion retains ~90% of capacity at −40°C, where lithium drops to around 60% — and it charges in freezing conditions without the "heating tax" that drains lithium systems. Ideal for UK winters, off-grid sites, telecom huts and outdoor security.
Inherently Safer
A much lower risk of thermal runaway than lithium, with no fire or explosion through overcharge, over-discharge and short-circuit abuse testing. Sodium-ion cells can even be stored and transported safely at zero volts.
Genuinely Sustainable
No cobalt, no nickel, no scarce lithium. Sodium is roughly 1,300× more abundant, and hard-carbon anodes can be sourced from bio-waste — for lower embedded carbon and a cleaner, more secure supply chain.
Sodium-Ion, the AceOn Way
One UK partner for sodium-ion — from bespoke battery packs to drop-in 12V batteries and portable power, backed by 30+ years of UK battery expertise.
StamiNa+ Soft Packs
Bespoke 12V sodium-ion packs engineered to your application — power tools, robotics, medical, lighting and security.
12V Sodium-Ion Range
Drop-in 12V sodium-ion batteries for solar, backup, telecom and off-grid — led by the NA12100 100Ah flagship, with more capacities to come.
PES 120
Portable sodium-ion energy storage — sustainable, safe power you can take off-grid, run at events or keep for emergency backup.
Sodium-ion isn't new to us
AceOn was awarded a £1 million Innovate UK grant to build a mobile solar energy storage unit powered by Sheffield-based Faradion's sodium-ion cells — the first commercial use of the technology in sub-Saharan Africa. With 30+ years in batteries, we design, manufacture, supply and integrate sodium-ion under one UK roof.
Where Sodium-Ion Delivers
From the factory floor to the field, StamiNa+ powers the applications that demand safety, cold tolerance and dependable cycle life.
Power & Garden Tools
Cordless drills, drivers, mowers and industrial vacuums that need reliable, safe runtime.
Robotics & AGVs
Warehouse robots, industrial AGVs, cleaning and security robots running long shifts.
Medical Devices
Oxygen concentrators, patient monitors, infusion pumps and mobility scooters.
Solar & Outdoor Lighting
Solar street lights and outdoor lighting that must perform through cold nights.
Off-Grid & Solar Storage
Cabins, workshops and remote sites where cold-charging keeps power flowing all year.
Security & Surveillance
CCTV cameras, monitoring systems and remote surveillance with all-weather reliability.
Telecom Backup
Cell sites and comms equipment needing safe, dependable backup in any climate.
Marine & Leisure
Caravans, campervans and boats that benefit from safe chemistry and steady output.
Sodium-Ion Questions, Answered
The questions buyers ask most when weighing up sodium-ion batteries against lithium and lead-acid.
Are sodium-ion batteries better than lithium?
It depends on the job. Lithium (LFP) packs more energy into less weight and space, so it wins where size is critical. Sodium-ion wins on cold-weather performance, safety, sustainability and material cost — making it the better choice for outdoor, off-grid, safety-critical and sustainability-led applications.
Do sodium-ion batteries work in cold weather?
Yes — exceptionally well. Sodium-ion retains around 90% of its capacity at −40°C, compared with roughly 60% for lithium. It also charges in freezing conditions without the lithium-plating risk that forces lithium systems to stop charging below 0°C, which makes it ideal for the UK climate and remote outdoor sites.
Are sodium-ion batteries safe?
Sodium-ion has a much lower risk of thermal runaway than lithium. AceOn's cells pass overcharge, over-discharge and short-circuit abuse testing with no fire or explosion, and can be safely stored and transported fully discharged at zero volts — a meaningful advantage for handling and logistics.
How long do sodium-ion batteries last?
Our flagship NA12100 delivers 2,000+ full charge cycles while retaining at least 70% capacity, with sodium-ion broadly capable of 2,000–5,000 cycles depending on cell and duty. For most off-grid, backup and industrial duties that translates to many years of dependable service.
Can sodium-ion replace my lithium or lead-acid battery?
Often, yes. The 12V NA12100 is a drop-in replacement for many lead-acid and lithium setups in solar, backup and leisure systems. Because sodium-ion is slightly larger for the same capacity, our team will confirm the right fit for your space and load — just talk to us about your application.
Are sodium-ion batteries more sustainable?
Yes. They use no cobalt, no nickel and no scarce lithium — sodium is roughly 1,300× more abundant, and hard-carbon anodes can be made from bio-waste. That means lower embedded carbon and a shorter, more secure supply chain than conventional lithium batteries.
Power the Next Wave with AceOn
Whether you need a bespoke sodium-ion pack or a proven drop-in block, our UK team will help you specify the right StamiNa+ solution — backed by 30+ years of battery expertise.