Tech tracker: Meet the mighty wood-waste battery

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Researchers in Germany have developed a new sodium-ion battery made from wood waste. The battery could be used for stationary or mobile storage applications where fast charging isn’t essential. The team says it is well-suited for low-power vehicles, such as microcars with top speeds of around 45 km per hour, and warehouse equipment like forklifts.

• The scientists focused on transforming lignin, a polymer found in wood and typically treated as industrial waste, into a high-performance battery material (hard carbon). It offers strong electrochemical performance, excellent cycle stability, and low production costs. 

• The battery is the single most expensive component of an EV. Wood batteries could be particularly useful in Africa, where microcars, tricycles and motorcycles are the most popular EVs.  

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