Filipino startup Nascent Technologies Corp. aims to begin commercial sales of sodium-ion battery packs for motorcycles and four-wheel vehicles by the second half of 2026, positioning itself as a potential Philippine contender in global electric vehicle battery manufacturing.
Joey D. Ocon, president and chief technology officer of Nascent, told LogisticsNews.PH that the commercialization target follows the deployment of the company’s sodium-ion SLI (starting, lighting, and ignition) battery packs in the field for real-world validation.
“We have completed core R&D and laboratory validation of our sodium-ion platform. But, R&D is a continuous process for us as a deep technology start-up. We are now in the commercialization phase,” he said.
The commercialization phase includes continued field validation, certification and compliance, scaling pack design and Battery Management System (BMS) engineering, and manufacturing preparation. Commercialization will begin with pack design and BMS engineering, followed by localized pack assembly.
“The transition from R&D to commercial deployment is already underway,” he reiterated.
Following field testing, Ocon said the company will also pilot its first residential sodium-ion battery storage system soon, marking its entry into distributed home energy storage.
Supply chain diversification
Ocon said sodium-ion battery technology reduces reliance on lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) rely on abundant, low-cost materials, primarily sodium carbonate (soda ash), hard carbon (anode), and iron/manganese-based cathodes. Key components include aluminum foil collectors, sodium salts for electrolytes, and separators, offering a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion with reduced reliance on critical minerals.
These materials offer a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries while reducing supply chain risks. This will reduce usage of the volatile critical mineral markets, he said.
So far, lithium-ion batteries are the standard for high-performance, long-range EVs due to their high energy density and long life. But sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are emerging as a cheaper, safer, and more cold-resistant alternative, ideal for budget-friendly city cars, two-wheelers, and, cold-climate applications, although they currently offer lower energy density.
In the medium term, Nascent plans to expand into battery packs for electric two- and three-wheelers. However, he noted that these traction battery systems are not part of the company’s short-term commercialization plan.
Beyond 2026, the company intends to start localized battery pack manufacturing for specific domestic applications, gradually expanding into adjacent markets such as light EV battery packs.
“Our objective is to position the Philippines in next-generation battery systems engineering and manufacturing,” he said.
The use of abundant local raw materials will also contribute to supply chain diversification.
Ocon said the Philippines has historically served as a mineral exporter within the global battery value chain. Nascent’s strategy, however, focuses on battery pack design, systems integration, BMS engineering, and application-specific battery solutions.
“We are starting with pack engineering and localized pack manufacturing, which are more realistic and scalable entry points for the country,” Ocon said.
“Rather than immediately attempting capital-intensive cell manufacturing, we are building competence at the systems level. This foundation can later support expansion into light electric mobility battery packs for 2- and 3-wheelers.”
Through this approach, the Philippines could increase its value addition in the battery supply chain while enhancing energy security through alternative battery chemistries.
Incentives
Moving into full-scale cell manufacturing would require massive capital investments and advanced technology development, which remain part of Nascent’s long-term roadmap.
To accelerate industry development, Ocon said government incentives will be crucial for advanced battery pack manufacturing. These incentives should support pilot and testing facilities as well as standards and certification infrastructure.
The industry also needs R&D grants and innovation financing, he said, adding that such measures would signal clear industrial policy support for emerging battery chemistries.
“For pack engineering and localized manufacturing, investments are in the tens to low hundreds of millions of pesos if not billions, depending on scale,” he said.
Nascent already has early-stage investors and strategic partners supporting its development. However, larger-scale expansion, particularly toward cell manufacturing, would require significantly higher capital and long-term policy support.
Ocon added that the Philippines’ Critical Minerals agreement with the United States is strategically important. However, he said the country must move beyond mining and develop capabilities in battery pack and systems manufacturing, technology development, and recycling within the circular economy.
“Because sodium-ion chemistry does not rely on lithium, cobalt, or nickel, it contributes to global supply chain diversification and mineral risk reduction. Our goal is to help the Philippines move up the value chain — from raw material exporter to battery technology and systems participant,” he concluded.
