A San Diego battery manufacturer has an impressive sodium-ion product designed to replace long-term lead-acid batteries in a variety of environments.
With it, UNIGRID captures a larger share of the replaceable battery market – valued by Fortune Business Insights at nearly $50 billion per year.
Called Na⁺ Fleet, the 12-volt product is designed to better start internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, forklifts and other technology, as well as power lights and electronics in electric vehicles.
Darren HS Tan, co-founder of UNIGRID, said in a press release: “Strategically, this is an attractive early entry market for sodium ions; it is a large, already existing market using outdated technology and ready for disruption.”
The downside is that it’s an investment in a highly polluting transportation product. In addition to lowering local air quality, tailpipe emissions can increase cancer risks, according to the American Lung Association.
However, this battery is also an advancement in sodium-ion chemistry, which is being developed by experts around the world as a cheaper, better-performing alternative to lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries.
UNIGRID said in a press release that its batteries last 10 times longer than lead-acid batteries, which have been used for more than a century.
This breakthrough could replace these types of batteries, thereby reducing the amount of hazardous waste produced from improperly disposed lead-acid battery packs. The Environmental Protection Agency details many of the problems they cause, such as lead exposure that can cause brain, kidney and hearing damage.
Among a list of benefits, UNIGRID notes that the Na⁺ Fleet can last 5,000 cycles in hot or cold weather, requires no maintenance, and is lighter.
“Sodium ion… beats lead acid on nearly every metric… including total cost,” Tan said in the release.
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Sodium-ion battery packs are also being developed to power electric vehicles, and UNIGRID’s progress could be part of the path to the next generation of clean ride-hailing technology.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicles reduce air pollution by thousands of pounds per year compared to gas-powered vehicles. Interesting Engineering adds that Na⁺ Fleet can be used to power electric vehicle auxiliary systems and can also replace lead acid.
According to data from supply chain analyst Rho Motion, global electric vehicle sales reached 18.5 million units as of November this year, a 21% increase from 2024.
The report adds that overseas markets are stronger than the U.S. domestic market, where growth has been “suppressed” by well-documented policy changes and the end of the federal electric vehicle tax credit.
But now is still a good time to make the switch, as many states offer benefits for purchasing and charging an electric vehicle, which can save you up to $1,500 a year on gas and service. This is thanks to the elimination of oil changes, spark plug replacements and other common maintenance.
Adding home solar power to charge your rides can result in even greater savings. Cool Down’s Solar Explorer can help you get started with featured quotes, installer recommendations and other tips.
Meanwhile, UNIGRID continues to record sodium-ion innovation in the rapidly growing battery sector.
The company says the latest product has a “significantly extended service life.”
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