China is making a bold leap in battery innovation by introducing sodium-ion powered electric scooters to the mass market, signaling a significant move toward reducing reliance on costly lithium and other key minerals.
On the bustling streets of Hangzhou, a lineup of sleek electric scooters is attracting curious shoppers and commuters. These scooters, priced between £300 and £500 ($400 to $660), stand out not just for their design, but for what powers them: sodium-ion batteries derived from abundant sea salt — a sustainable alternative to traditional lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries.
The showcase, organized by Chinese e-scooter giant Yadea, also featured rapid charging pillars and battery-swapping stations. According to Yadea, its new infrastructure can charge a scooter battery from 0% to 80% in just 15 minutes or allow users to swap a depleted battery for a fully charged one in under 30 seconds with a simple QR code scan.
Yadea’s rollout is part of a broader national push toward sodium-ion battery technology, which experts say could transform the global battery landscape. Though still in its early stages, sodium-ion tech is being tested in various applications — from scooters and trucks to power grids.
In April, leading battery maker CATL announced plans to mass-produce sodium-ion cells for trucks and passenger vehicles under a new brand, Naxtra. Energy grid operators are also deploying the technology in storage stations to manage renewable power fluctuations.
Yet it’s the electric two-wheeler market — already massive in China — that may prove to be sodium-ion’s breakout sector. In 2023, China sold around 55 million electric two-wheelers, dwarfing sales of electric cars. These lightweight vehicles are ideal for sodium-ion batteries, which offer less energy density than lithium but are still more advanced than lead-acid alternatives, and suitable for short commutes.
Yadea has already launched three sodium-powered scooter models and has established the Hangzhou Huayu New Energy Research Institute to accelerate battery research. Speaking in January, Yadea Vice President Zhou Chao said the company is focused on bringing lab-tested technology directly to consumers.
In Shenzhen, Yadea began a pilot program involving 150,000 food delivery riders, enabling them to swap depleted sodium batteries for fully charged ones at dedicated stations. The program’s success has helped propel Shenzhen’s ambition to become a “battery-swapping city,” with plans to install 20,000 charging or swapping units this year and 50,000 by 2027.
With a strategy that blends affordability, sustainability, and scale, China appears poised to lead the global shift toward alternative battery technologies — with two wheels paving the way.
