While the world obsesses over lithium, China is quietly betting big on sodium. EVE Energy just broke ground on a massive dual-purpose facility in Hubei Province with a price tag of roughly RMB 1 billion – that’s about $140 million for those keeping score at home. The project isn’t just ambitious; it’s downright audacious.
The plan? A sprawling 90,000 square meter headquarters for sodium-ion battery production paired with a 50,000 square meter robotics hub. Not exactly a modest operation. EVE is targeting 2 gigawatt-hours of annual sodium battery production, primarily for energy storage systems and AI data centers. They’re calling it a “mutually empowering” strategy – robots build better batteries while batteries provide real-world data to improve the AI. Clever.
What’s the big deal about sodium anyway? For starters, it’s everywhere. Unlike lithium, which everyone and their mother is fighting over, sodium is abundant and dirt cheap. EVE claims their batteries will be “non-flammable” and eventually “zero-trace” – marketing speak for “won’t burn your house down” and “won’t poison the earth when disposed.” Bold promises. This initiative aligns with the global push for sustainable solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while preserving natural resources.
Sodium isn’t sexy, but it’s everywhere. No mining wars, no house fires, and maybe even eco-friendly. Game changer?
The robotics center isn’t just window dressing. It’s a full-blown 50,000 square meter operation covering everything from R&D to final assembly. They’re banking on “scenario-driven design” with generative AI connecting robots, equipment, and the few humans still needed around the place. Construction officially began on December 22, 2025 with the project located at the company’s Huizhou headquarters.
Manufacturing will happen right alongside R&D and testing – no more sending prototypes across the country. It’s all about speed. And robots. Lots of robots.
Let’s be real – this is China positioning itself for the post-lithium world. While Western companies duke it out for the last scraps of lithium, EVE is building a sodium-powered future with AI and robotics at its core. Smart play.
The facility aims to be a domestic leader in sodium battery industrialization. If it works, the energy storage landscape might never be the same.
References
- https://autonews.gasgoo.com/new_energy/70040204.html
- https://longbridge.com/en/news/270563259
- https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/eve-energy-starts-140m-sodium-ion-hq-with-robotics-hub/
- https://cnevpost.com/2025/12/23/eve-energy-breaks-ground-sodium-battery-headquarters-robotics-center/
- https://chinaevhome.com/2025/12/23/eve-energy-invests-1-4b-in-2-gwh-sodium-battery-plant/
- https://www.moomoo.com/news/post/63197670/eve-energy-breaks-ground-on-sodium-battery-headquarters-and-robotics
- http://www.iccsino.com/news/show-htm-itemid-25080.html
- https://que.com/eve-energy-begins-construction-on-innovative-sodium-battery-and-robotics-hub/amp/
