Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) offer a compelling alternative to lithium-based cells. They use the same basic rechargeable architecture, but swap lithium for abundant, lower-cost sodium - which means rethinking electrode materials and electrolytes to make the chemistry work. Energy storage, however, isn't one of them. Currently, there's really no beating lithium-ion batteries in terms. E10X, a microcar made by the Chinese firm JAC Yiwei, a joint venture between JAC and Volkswagen, is one of the first mass-produced vehicles to be powered by a sodium-ion battery. Credit: JustAnotherCarDesigner/Wikipedia Recurring stories and special news packages from C&EN. From 2023 to 2025. Scientists at the University of Surrey have discovered a simple way to boost their performance—by leaving the water inside a key component rather than removing it. Unlike lithium-ion technology, which currently dominates the energy storage market and relies on expensive, environmentally damaging. While lithium-ion technology dominates electric vehicles (EVs) and consumer electronics, sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention for their lower cost, environmental benefits, and adaptability in large-scale energy storage.