Are Sodium Batteries Cheaper than LiFePO4? I Did The Test
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Are sodium-ion batteries really cheaper than LiFePO₄? In this video, I test a 75Ah sodium-ion cell and break down the actual cost per usable watt-hour. On paper, sodium looks like a budget-friendly alternative to lithium, but once we factor in inverter limitations and real-world discharge capacity, the story changes.
I tested the sodium cell from 3.8V down to 2.5V — a voltage range compatible with most 12V inverters — and measured 48Ah of usable capacity. That’s roughly 63% of the cell’s rated 75Ah. While the cell I tested cost me $31, I also looked at more economical 210Ah sodium-ion cells, which are priced at around $38 due to higher production volumes. Using that pricing, the cost per usable watt-hour came out to $0.094.
To put that in perspective, I compared it to a 280Ah EVE LiFePO₄ V3 cell, which costs $50 and provides 896Wh of usable energy. That brings the cost per watt-hour for lithium down to $0.056 — making it significantly cheaper than sodium, even though the upfront cell cost is higher.
I also clear up some common myths about sodium-ion batteries, like the idea that they’re just made of salt, or that they’re 30% cheaper than lithium. While sodium has potential for stationary or low-temperature backup systems, it’s not quite ready for high-energy applications or EVs due to lower energy density and limited commercial availability. I even saw a prototype sodium battery with a built-in DC-to-DC converter at a solar expo in Jakarta — promising technology, but not available for consumers yet.