UK-based TaiSan, a company developing quasi-solid state sodium batteries for EVs, has raised £1.3 million in pre-seed funding. The investment, led by EIT InnoEnergy and TSP Ventures, with participation from Heartfelt VC and Exergon, aims to accelerate the development of TaiSan’s battery technology.
Sodium-ion batteries are seen as a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries in the automotive industry. They offer cost, sustainability, and safety benefits, with the global market expected to grow significantly in the coming years. TaiSan, launched in 2022, has developed a proprietary polymer electrolyte with a metal anode, using sustainable materials. The company claims its cells have comparable energy density to automotive lithium-ion cells but with a projected 20 percent cost saving. The technology is designed to be compatible with existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities and offers fast-charging capabilities. TaiSan has signed 12 memorandums of understanding with automakers for collaborative research and development.
“Sodium-ion offers significant cost, sustainability and safety benefits for the BEV industry,” says Sanzhar Taizhan, CEO. “TaiSan’s novel electrolyte and anode material innovations will bring this technology to the next level – batteries becoming smaller, lighter, with best-in-class energy density, and major cost savings too.”
The company has previously received nearly £500,000 in funding from UK government and research organizations. In October 2023, TaiSan was recognized with the “Best Growth Potential” award by the Department for Transport’s Chief Scientific Advisor.
“We believe TaiSan’s technological breakthroughs can unlock the promise of sodium-ion by delivering cheaper, highly functional batteries with significantly lower environmental impact,” says Mike Doswell, CIO of TSP Ventures.
TaiSan’s team includes experienced battery scientists and electrochemists from institutions such as MIT, Imperial College, Jaguar Land Rover, and The Faraday Institution. Founder Sanzhar Taizhan is a former JLR battery engineer and has received multiple UK battery awards.
