Firms are exploring sodium batteries as an alternative to lithium
Firms are exploring sodium batteries as an alternative to lithium
Unlike lithium, sodium is cheap and abundant
Na-Ion can be a lot less expensive. But it's a lot heavier. (Not a problem for grid-storage.)
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As a flashlight enthusiast, I'd be very interested to see if sodium batteries are any better.
Was just reading through the articles I could find about it and it seems you can't make cylindrical batteries with it. Which sucks for existing flashlights. I'm sure if the tech ever picks up some other shape of flashlight could be made.
They also seem to have less capacity overall.
Just make a flat battery and roll it up. 🧌
Material scientists hate this one trick.
There are cylindrical cells available. The capacity is pretty low, 18650 cells are around 1.5AH and 26700 cells are around 3.5AH. They discharge down to 1.5V, so you will get less capacity if you use them in something designed for lithium cells.
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.
At the moment they aren't up to par with lithium. The tech is still developing though. So maybe one day they will catch up.
All depend on which point you compare. Because for charging, sodium win over lithium.