Sodium-ion "salt" batteries will revolutionize electric-vehicle and grid storage

ck2

note sodium-ion is no longer two or three times the weight of lithium-ion, there is only a +33% penalty apparently the problem is there is not yet enough volume in production to compete on price, which I thought was the whole point? > sodium-ion specs have improved to the point that the technology could break into the general EV market. A recent study by Moritz Schütte at Aachen University in Germany and his colleagues found that a sodium-ion battery by the manufacturer Hina rivals Tesla’s lithium-ion batteries on most parameters, although it would still be a third heavier > But CATL claims its sodium-ion battery has an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram, which can compete with the lithium-iron-phosphate batteries in low-cost models from Tesla and others. And while sodium-ion batteries still haven’t quite beaten lithium batteries on price, that could change as they expand, according to Schütte > sodium ions generate less heat in electrochemical reactions, reducing fire risk, so less money can be spent on cooling. They also form weaker bonds with the electrolyte, so they don’t slow down as much in the cold

Havoc

Really hoping this enables safer battery tech too. Lithium fires are scary

sourdecor

I think it is weird that the recent breakthroughs in sodium batteries have come from China; I would have assumed they would want to keep everyone reliant on their rare earth minerals.

soleveloper

It is time to standardize EV batteries like wheels: 5-10 mainstream types & competition on quality vs. price vs. range. Regulator help is needed here.

eagerpace

There is no reason I can’t put a swimming pool size battery under my house. I don’t care what the energy density is, make it bulletproof and cheap and massive.

poisonborz

Oh look it's the quarterly "revolutionary battery tech incoming" article.

WarmWash

Something to be aware of, and this is still in flux as the market is so new, but when sodium-ion batteries that use Prussian Blue/Prussian white cathodes enter thermal-runaway (or catch fire for whatever other reason), they release hydrogen cyanide gas. Obviously manufacturers are aware of this and other chemistries of sodium-ion exist, but when a market is new you can sometimes get all manner of competing tech floating around. I have entertained the idea of being an early adopter for home battery storage, but learning this made me hold off until their was more info/you could be sure about what you were buying.