Enchem, South Korea’s leading electrolyte manufacturer, announced Monday it’s conducting two national research projects focused on sodium-ion battery technology, positioning itself in a rapidly emerging market where China’s CATL has already staked an early lead.
The South Korean company is developing high-reliability electrolytes and electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries, which have gained attention as a potentially cheaper alternative to lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells due to sodium’s abundance and similar chemical properties to lithium.
“These national projects will enhance Enchem’s technological competitiveness in the global battery market,” a company official stated, emphasizing their focus on securing leadership in next-generation battery technology.
The timing is strategic as CATL recently announced plans to mass-produce its Naxtra sodium-ion batteries by December 2025, with energy density reaching 175 Wh/kg – comparable to current LFP batteries. CATL claims its sodium-ion batteries maintain 90% capacity at temperatures as low as -40°C.
Enchem, which reported 242 billion won (US$180 million) in sales last year, is pursuing two distinct approaches: one project supervised by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade focuses on electrolyte reliability, while another under the Ministry of Science aims to develop 220Wh/kg-class batteries with over 1Ah cell capacity.
The company’s diversification beyond its core lithium battery electrolyte business comes as sodium technology gains momentum for applications in smaller EVs and energy storage systems where cost considerations outweigh energy density limitations.
