Press release- PR Newswire, 11 December 2025
UNIGRID Inc., a San Diego-based battery innovator, has revealed a new generation of sodium-ion 12-volt starter batteries aimed squarely at replacing conventional lead-acid units in cars, motorcycles, forklifts and other vehicles. The technology, branded as Na⁺ Fleet, uses sodium-chromium-oxide (NaCrO₂) cells that deliver the same voltage and power characteristics as traditional lead-acid SLI (starting, lighting and ignition) batteries — but with key advantages in weight, durability and safety.
For decades the automotive industry has relied on heavy, maintenance-intensive lead-acid batteries that often need replacing multiple times over a vehicle’s life. Alternatives like lithium-ion have helped in some areas, but their need for complex battery management systems, limited cold-weather performance and potential fire risks have slowed wider adoption in engine bays. UNIGRID says its sodium-ion approach addresses many of these issues by offering a drop-in replacement that’s smaller, lighter and inherently safer due to chemistry that eliminates the risk of thermal runaway.
The Na⁺ Fleet cells are designed to operate within the familiar 8–14.4 V range without requiring an active battery management system, helping to keep costs down and simplifying integration for OEMs and battery makers. UNIGRID highlights several performance benefits, including more than 5,000 usable cycles — roughly ten times the typical life of lead-acid — and greater cold-cranking performance across extreme temperatures from –40 °C to 60 °C. Low self-discharge also enables long-term storage without maintenance charging, another common pain point with older battery chemistries.
According to CEO and co-founder Darren H. S. Tan, the automotive 12 V starter market represents a large, established sector that’s ripe for disruption with more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions. The Na⁺ Fleet platform can be configured in versatile form factors to fit existing battery trays and packaging, making it easier for manufacturers and distributors to offer sodium-ion starter batteries as direct replacements for lead-acid units in a wide range of vehicles — from everyday cars and pickup trucks to golf carts, buses and hybrid/EV auxiliary systems.
Na⁺ Fleet cells are now available to OEMs, integrators and distributors looking to modernize conventional starter battery offerings with next-generation sodium-ion technology.
