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Firms are exploring sodium batteries as an alternative to lithium
(www.economist.com)
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this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2023
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Well I'm all about developing new technology and allowing the very best to sell the most.
Maybe someday in the future there will be an alternative to lithium batteries that really is better. But as you said, Sodium batteries aren't as good.
They are actually better than Lithium in several ways. Sodium batteries have most of the capacity of Lithium batteries by weight, around 80% if I recall. But what they have to offer is being completely non-flammable, tolerant to wider temperature ranges, and they are made of materials that are cheap and abundant almost everywhere. It's much better than having to source Lithium and Cobalt.
We could put Sodium batteries everywhere to power the grid since they are super safe, should be fine outdoors even.
Ok, so that sounds good for grid size battery packs and backyard generator replacements as well as indoor wall packs.
And like 80% of car trips.
Yes! It would be great for a cheap daily commuter.
All depend on which point you compare. Because for charging, sodium win over lithium.