Technology
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Sodium is basically ubiquitous and sodium batteries are much easier to produce, which is not to be neglected amid rising geopolitical tension. They are also a lot safer to handle. The technology has improved to be ready for the market in almost no time and is still improving rapidly.
They won't be in your smartphone or wireless earbuds where energy density is key, but for large storage grids or maybe even cars, they might replace LiPo or LiFePO4.
I refuse to get solar on my house until I can store the energy myself, hopefully this will be available for that soon.
Yep, lithium can be tricky to obtain if there are political or other issues. OTOH as you say, sodium is everywhere.
Lithium is everywhere. It's just no one gave a shit until recently.
It's mostly too hard or too expensive to extract AFAIK.
Unlike sodium, which can be extracted pretty much anywhere in the world without the worry of depleting your source if you have a coast
Efficiency drops significantly as you go faster than 50mph, so they would be more practical for city cars that don't do a lot of time on the highway.
sounds like a great use case for a city bus or battery powered tram.
It's so stupid that we ditched electricity powered trams and buses through wires.
Yes and no. Electric vehicles are good, though it's not exactly a safety feature to have exposed wiring.
Vancouver BC has had exposed trolley wires for many decades, no major mishaps. Sometimes drivers have to jump out and reconnect the charge arms, which puts them in the road for half a minute.
Can you point out the actual, demonstrated risks?