US Firms Have Launched Sodium Ion Battery Projects

Companies are developing domestic production to challenge China's dominance in the battery manufacturing market.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Isometric editorial illustration of a stack of metallic battery cells on a clean, grey workbench in an industrial facility. — Several U.S. firms are establishing domestic sodium ion battery manufacturing facilities to reduce reliance on foreign-dominated battery supply chains. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Several U.S.-based companies, including Unigrid and Peak Energy, are establishing domestic manufacturing for sodium ion batteries to serve rising electricity demand. These efforts aim to build a supply chain using domestic materials as an alternative to current lithium-based technology.

Why it matters

Domestic sodium ion manufacturing addresses the need for energy storage driven by data centers and grid demands. By localizing production, companies seek to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains currently dominated by China.

Unigrid produces 9 kilowatt hour sodium ion batteries and aims to ship 1,000 units by the end of 2026. While China currently leads the global manufacturing sector, U.S. firms are scaling operations to compete with established lithium battery costs.

The players

Unigrid

A San Diego-based company that is currently shipping nine kilowatt hour sodium ion batteries to consumers.

Peak Energy

An energy company that partnered with General Motors to develop a domestic supply chain for battery production.

General Motors

A major American automotive manufacturer that entered a partnership with Peak Energy in June 2026.

Emerald Battery Labs

A Seattle-based company that is actively engaged in the development of sodium ion battery technology.

The details

Unigrid, based in San Diego, is currently shipping units while sourcing cells from China, while Seattle-based Emerald Battery Labs is also developing technology. Peak Energy has notably partnered with General Motors to build a supply chain, with plans to open a Michigan facility by 2028.

Peak Energy formed a partnership with General Motors in June 2026.
Unigrid expects to complete the shipment of 1,000 battery units by the end of 2026.
Peak Energy plans to open its production facility in Michigan by the end of 2028.

Roadmap

The transition to sodium ion technology represents a strategic attempt to diversify energy storage away from lithium-dependent architectures. This shift positions domestic startups to eventually capture market share from established international giants through localized manufacturing.

Consumers seeking energy storage for peak demand may see more local options as companies scale production over the next few years. Increased domestic manufacturing could eventually lead to lower hardware costs for residential and grid-scale storage systems.

The takeaway

Sodium ion technology offers a promising, potentially cheaper path for grid energy storage as the U.S. looks to localize its energy supply chain. Readers should monitor these developments as a potential signal for future shifts in home energy backup and storage costs.