GM Decides to Commercialize Sodium-Ion Batteries

U.S. automotive giant General Motors (GM) has announced an investment in U.S. startup Peak Energy and plans to advance the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries, primarily for energy storage systems (ESS), with deployment targeted after 2029. This marks the first meaningful entry of a non-Chinese automaker into the field and is prompting Korea’s battery industry to incorporate sodium-ion technology into its strategic priorities, even as it accelerates efforts to catch up in LFP. Unlike ternary batteries (NCM/NCA) and LFP, which rely on lithium, sodium-ion batteries use more abundant and lower-cost sodium as a substitute, offering advantages such as greater supply chain stability, better low-temperature performance, and enhanced safety—making them particularly suitable for large-scale energy storage applications. At the same time, increased volatility in lithium prices has further strengthened the cost competitiveness of sodium-ion batteries. Korean players including LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On have already accelerated their efforts, aiming to advance sample production or commercialization around 2027. Overall, GM’s entry signals that a technology pathway previously dominated by Chinese companies is becoming globalized, and it is likely to push Korean battery manufacturers to accelerate adjustments to their technology and product portfolios.

【Phosphorus Chemicals: Wengfu Raises Wet-Process 85% Phosphoric Acid Price by RMB 500 to RMB 12,100/ton】 On June 15, 2026, according to SMM, Wengfu increased its ex-factory price for wet-process 85% phosphoric acid by RMB 500 to RMB 12,100/ton. Driven by sharp fluctuations in sulfur prices, this hike is intended to ease tight supply pressures and curb downstream demand. A total of 800,000 tonnes of capacity at the Dazhou and Shanghang bases remain offline. Outlook: Significant geopolitical influences are expected to keep prices volatile in the short term. The rise in phosphoric acid prices further pushes up production costs for iron phosphate and lithium iron phosphate (LFP).

On June 10, news emerged that General Motors has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with US energy storage company Peak Energy to jointly develop sodium-ion battery technology for grid-side energy storage applications. The two parties will combine Peak's passive cooling energy storage technology with General Motors' battery cell research and development expertise, aiming to create the world's most cost-effective and reliable energy storage battery. Under the cooperation, General Motors will use its battery laboratory in Michigan for dedicated research and development of sodium-ion battery cells, while Peak Energy will integrate these sodium-ion cells into its proprietary energy storage systems.