Market Report: Can Sodium-Ion Outperform LFP?

Authored by Dr. Yingying Xie and Spencer Gore—former leaders of Bedrock Materials, a venture-backed sodium-ion startup that decided to return capital after crunching the real numbers—this 73-page, no-nonsense report critically dissects some of the most common performance claims made about sodium-ion batteries.

Sodium-ion was once hailed as low-cost alternative to lithium-ion technology, but as lithium prices plummeted through 2025—dropping nearly 90% from their peak — their once-certain cost advantage began to evaporate, leaving industry stakeholders questioning the technology's role in the energy landscape.

Now, sodium-ion proponents have shifted their narrative: that these batteries aren't just cheaper, they're better. In this report, we rigorously put common industry claims to the test, examining whether sodium-ion batteries truly outperform in cold weather, prove more durable in extreme heat, and offer superior safety compared to lithium-ion counterparts like LFP. Finally, we delve into the critical question: what breakthroughs in materials, manufacturing, or supply chains will it take for sodium-ion batteries to match LFP on cost and carve out a meaningful role in the evolving energy landscape?

This report is written for the sophisticated capital allocator: the executive, R&D manager, investor, or fund manager who seeks to inform critical decisions about whether and how to invest in sodium-ion batteries.