A Pinch of Salt Will Make Your Next EV Cheaper
Sodium-ion batteries sound like a science fair trick, but they’re quietly lining up to slash the price of smaller EVs. Recent cost studies put sodium-ion pack costs in the mid-$50s per kWh, just under or close to today’s lithium iron phosphate packs, with room to drop as factories scale. A 2025 analysis in Cell Reports Sustainability pegs sodium-ion packs at roughly $54–$62 per kWh once production ramps, a serious discount for budget-focused models.
Global forecasts now expect tens of gigawatt-hours of sodium-ion capacity by the end of the decade, with Chinese manufacturers already running pilot lines and blended packs. The International Renewable Energy Agency’s 2025 brief on sodium-ion batteries notes pack-level costs under $125 per kWh even at this early stage. Stack that against lithium-ion’s long fall from $1,400 to under $140 per kWh, as tracked by the International Energy Agency, and you see where this is headed: cheaper city EVs, cheaper delivery vans, cheaper storage.
Photo by JUICE on Unsplash
For you, that means the first wave of “salt battery” EVs will likely live in the 150–200 mile range bracket with long cycle life and easy fast charging, not in the 350-mile road-trip missile lane. They’re perfect for people who hammer the same commute or school run, leave the car on a driveway charger, and just want something clean and cheap to run.
How To Plan Your Next EV Around Sodium-Ion
If you’re eyeing an EV in the next year or two, don’t freeze and wait for sodium-ion perfection. Today’s lithium cars give you more range and a mature charging ecosystem right now. If you’re shopping closer to 2028 and you mainly live in the city, sodium-ion EVs become a serious option — especially as second cars or as replacements for aging gas commuters.
The smart move is simple: buy the EV that fits your life today, keep an eye on salt-powered compacts as they roll out, and treat sodium-ion as the technology that pushes entry-level prices back toward sanity. When it’s time for your next trade-in, you’ll have more options and less sticker shock.
My Verdict
You don’t need to hold your life on pause for sodium-ion, but you should know it’s coming. If you crave long-range road trips, grab a lithium EV now and enjoy it. If you mostly live in the city and plan your big purchase a few years out, salt batteries are lining up to give you a cheaper, tougher, good-enough-range EV that makes daily driving a lot easier on your bank account.