Battery maker Clarios has invested in sodium-ion battery technology company Altris to accelerate the development of low voltage sodium-ion battery systems for vehicles.
The two companies are aiming to commercialise them by 2026. Altris of Sweden will develop the sodium-ion cell technology, while Clarios of the US will provide advanced electrical modelling software. It will leverage its expertise in battery management systems (BMS), software and system integration.
Clarios said its investment will allow Altris to finalise and start pilot production of the sodium-ion batteries, with commercial production starting in 2026.
Altris is developing patented cathode material, Altris Prussian White, as well as electrolytes, battery cells and production blueprints for sodium-ion batteries.
Clarios’s low-voltage system architecture, comprising multiple networks and battery power sources, is considered essential for powering critical safety features and ensuring redundancy in vehicle electrical systems. Sodium-ion batteries are well suited to meet these increased power demands, it added.
Federico Morales-Zimmermann, vice president and general manager of global OEM customers and technology at Clarios, said: “A sodium-ion battery solution perfectly complements our chemistry-agnostic portfolio, neatly dovetailing with lithium-ion and lead-acid options to capture the best attributes of both: high performance and lower cost.”
No financial details were disclosed but Altris said it successfully raised Skr150 million ($14 million) in a Series B1 funding round, introducing new investors such as Clarios and Maersk Growth.
