World's largest sodium-ion battery goes into operation - Energy Storage

schizoidman@lemmy.ml to Technology@lemmy.world – 491 points –
World's largest sodium-ion battery goes into operation - Energy Storage
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Sodium batteries are already in electric cars many months ago

https://www.engadget.com/the-first-ev-with-a-lithium-free-sodium-battery-hits-the-road-in-january-214828536.html

Also you could buy individual cells on AliExpress

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6zcI1GrkK4

Yes, but you pretty much have to do a full battery test and pen test like the great Scott video because it is really a 60/40 of getting fake sodium ion batteries from Aliexpress 😅

Sodium batteries will not replace lithium in cars, as the density is too low.

It means the battery weighs more but contains less power.

For an EV, that wouldn't work, as the heavier the car is, the more power it uses.

With sodium you will probably half the range of the EV, which is already low.

The newer sodium batteries are comparable to LFP batteries from a few years ago.

For medium distance commuter cars and inner city travel those things dont matter and will probably be outweighed by the cost savings, safety and reliability of sodium batteries. The main issue right now with getting EVs into more peoples hands is cost.

probably half the range of an EV

Many EVs have ~250 miles range. I need a quarter of that in usable winter range for my commute. If I could get an EV with 125 miles of advertised range (about half that in winter) for a third the price, I'd do it.

It's not going to replace my road tripping car, but it could replace my commuter, which needs very little range.