The world's largest EV battery maker that counts Tesla among its clients has placed its bets on sodium-ion batteries and doubling the average energy density with semi-solid electrolyte.https://www.notebookcheck.net/Sodium-ion-EV-batteries-and-semi-solid-electrolyte-are-CATL-s-bets-as-it-scoffs-at-the-solid-state-battery-craze.823475.0.html
Sodium ion batteries have even worse energy density than lithium ion. Sure let's add less range or more weight to already idiotically heavy EVs.
Conventional Li-ion batteries have conflict minerals like cobalt that often use child or slave labor to attain so finding a cheaper and conflict-free alternative when statistically the most people often drive in a single day is 40 miles max is a no brainier. Especially when there isn't enough lithium in the earths crust to support every ev having lithium batteries.
Quote from: OrcaBoat on April 07, 2024, 00:09:07Conventional Li-ion batteries have conflict minerals like cobalt ... Especially when there isn't enough lithium in the earths crust to support every ev having lithium batteries.
There is Lithium ion chemistry LFP, that do not use cobalt and seawater contains 10000x lithium than Earth crust. And Sodium ion does not use lithium at all.
Quote from: Mr Majestyk on April 06, 2024, 04:34:04Sodium ion batteries have even worse energy density than lithium ion. Sure let's add less range or more weight to already idiotically heavy EVs.
You gotta do what you gotta do.
It's all about the price. Sodium batteries have around half the capacity per kg as the best Lithium batteries. But they are almost the capacity of the LFP batteries. Lots of Teslas and other manufacturers use LFPs because they are cheaper, are more durable and a little bit safer.
So if sodium batteries manage to match LFP performance at a cheaper price then everyone will be all over them.