With reference to Sodium-ion batteries, consider the following statements:
1. They are more sustainable than lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance of sodium.
2. They have lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, limiting their use in high-performance EVs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question

With reference to Sodium-ion batteries, consider the following statements:
1. They are more sustainable than lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance of sodium.
2. They have lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, limiting their use in high-performance EVs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct: Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion), but they have some trade-offs. They are more sustainable than lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance of sodium. Sodium (Na) is much more abundant than lithium (Li) and is widely available in sources like sea salt. This makes Sodium-ion batteries more sustainable and potentially cheaper than Li-ion batteries.

Statement 2 is correct: Sodium-ion batteries generally have a lower energy density (100-160 Wh/kg) compared to Li-ion (150-250 Wh/kg). This means they store less energy per unit weight, making them less suitable for high-performance EVs, but they could be useful for stationary energy storage or low-cost applications.

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
With reference to Sodium-ion batteries, consider the following statements: 1. They are more sustainable than lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance of sodium. 2. They have lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, limiting their use in high-performance EVs. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2