India’s Breakthrough: Sodium-Ion Battery Charges to 80% in Just 6 Minutes

India Sets a New Benchmark in Battery Technology

India has made a significant leap in energy storage innovation with the development of a sodium-ion battery that charges to 80% in just six minutes. This advancement, led by researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru, could reshape the future of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and rural electrification.

Why Sodium-Ion Batteries Matter

Lithium-ion batteries have dominated the market for years, but they come with challenges: limited lithium reserves, high costs, and complex supply chains. Sodium, on the other hand, is abundant and affordable in India. By leveraging sodium instead of lithium, India can reduce its dependence on imports and create a more sustainable, cost-effective battery ecosystem.

Developed by a team led by Professor Premkumar Senguttuvan and Ph.D. scholar Biplab Patra, the battery is based on a NASICON-type chemistry, a known structure in electrochemical materials, but significantly enhanced using novel material engineering. The anode—Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃—was optimized using three key strategies: nanosizing, carbon coating, and aluminum substitution.

shrinking the particle size to the nanoscale increases the surface area and reduces the distance sodium ions need to travel. A thin carbon layer wrapped around the particles enhances conductivity. Adding aluminum to the material structure further improves electrochemical stability, allowing faster and safer ion movement.

Key Features of the New Battery

• Ultra-Fast Charging: Reaches 80% charge in just six minutes, far outpacing current lithium-ion batteries.

• Long Lifespan: Maintains over 80% capacity after 3,000+ charge-discharge cycles, ensuring durability for EVs and grid storage.

• Enhanced Safety: The battery’s design minimizes the risk of overheating and thermal runaway, making it safer for high-temperature environments.

• Advanced Materials: Utilizes a NASICON-type structure and a specially engineered anode, combining nanosized particles, carbon coating, and aluminum doping for optimal performance.

What Sets This Battery Apart?

The innovation lies in the battery’s unique material engineering. By reducing the size of the particles and adding a carbon coating, the battery allows ions to move more quickly, resulting in faster charging. Aluminum doping further boosts stability and structural integrity, ensuring the battery performs reliably over thousands of cycles.

This sodium-ion battery aligns with India’s push for self-reliance and clean energy. Its affordability and scalability make it ideal for mass adoption in:

• Electric vehicles (EVs)

• Renewable energy storage systems

• Drones and portable electronics

• Rural electrification projects

By reducing reliance on imported lithium, India can secure its energy future and support widespread electrification.

Currently, the sodium-ion battery is at the prototype stage, having demonstrated impressive results in laboratory testing. The next steps include scaling up production and moving toward commercial deployment, which could happen within the next few years.

India’s new sodium-ion battery represents a game-changing advancement in energy storage. With ultra-fast charging, long life, and enhanced safety—plus the advantage of using abundant local materials—this technology has the potential to power India’s electric future and inspire similar innovations worldwide.