Low-temperature discharging performance comparison of sodium-ion and lithium-ion cylindrical batteries

Abstract This work presents a systematic comparison of the low-temperature discharge performance of cylindrical sodium-ion (SIB) and lithium-ion (LIB) batteries in the 18650 format. Two commercial SIB cells, designed for high-energy and high-power applications, were evaluated alongside three LIB chemistries: nickel–manganese–cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and lithium titanate (LTO). Constant current discharge tests were conducted at temperatures from 25 to − 40 °C to assess capacity, energy, power, and thermal behavior. At room temperature, NMC-based LIBs exhibited the highest energy density, but their usability ends below − 20 °C. LFP and LTO cells retained at least partial functionality at − 30 °C but failed at lower temperatures. This behavior is also similar for SIB high-energy cells, whereas the high-power variant maintained stable discharge across all tested rates to − 30 °C and retained usable capacity even at − 40 °C. These results demonstrate that although SIBs possess lower energy density than LIBs at ambient conditions, their superior resilience in extreme cold (≤ − 20 °C) makes them promising candidates for cold climate applications. Graphical abstract