Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in India have developed a sodium-ion battery that can reportedly charge up to 80% in six minutes.
According to the team, the battery also offers a lifespan of over 3,000 charge cycles, which could address both charging speed and long-term durability in energy storage applications.
While lithium-ion batteries remain the standard in most devices and electric vehicles, they present challenges such as high material costs, safety concerns, and dependence on limited resources like lithium and cobalt.
Sodium, on the other hand, is more abundant and less expensive. The JNCASR battery uses a nanostructured anode made of carbon-coated, aluminium-doped materials, a design said to improve ion movement and overall efficiency.
The development contributes to a broader trend of advancing fast-charging technologies. For example, Zeekr, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, recently introduced batteries that charge from 10% to 80% in around 10.5 minutes.
Svolt Energy has developed the Fengxing Short Blade Battery, which claims an 80% charge in 8.5 minutes and an energy density of 185 Wh/kg, with a projected lifespan of up to 15 years.
In consumer electronics, companies such as Realme and Xiaomi are also working on high-speed charging technologies.
Realme is developing a 300W system aimed at fully charging smartphones in under 10 minutes, while Xiaomi has demonstrated a 300W prototype that charges a 4,100mAh battery in less than five minutes.
The sodium-ion battery developed by JNCASR is still at the research stage, and further testing and scaling are needed before commercial deployment.
However, if the reported results are validated, the technology could provide an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, particularly for applications that prioritise cost, safety, and charging speed.
Continued development in this area reflects growing demand for improved energy storage solutions across sectors, from electric vehicles to consumer electronics and grid storage.
Sodium-ion batteries, with their potential advantages in resource availability and safety, are one of several technologies being explored as part of this transition.
