Post #521371

2026-02-25 07:19 UTC

Unless other situations where the established technology wins due to inertia, sodium ion batteries have two benefits that make them interesting regardless: Firstly, they are safer. A punctured sodium ion battery doesn’t catch fire, which massively simplifies safety design. That makes them very attractive for certain scenarios, especially ones where density is a secondary concern. That in turn means they get further development money instead of withering on the vine. Secondly, they require fewer hard-to-obtain materials, which makes them attractive from a strategic perspective. This one should be less important than the safety factor but it’s also relevant. I’m pretty sure we’ll actually see wet sodium cells in the wild if they are actually practical. Sodium ion tech is already being commercialized and if this brings it within the same ballpark as lithium ion then it becomes a very interesting choice for vehicles due to instant crash safety gains.

Replies (3)

@0tan0d@lemmy.world 2026-02-25 13:38

They also perform better in the cold making them a better choice for EVs in cold regions. This is why I think CATL saw the videos of cars getting killed by cold and pulled the trigger on retooling even with the lithium price crash.

Open ##1567005
@wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 2026-02-25 12:46

Not to mention from a human rights perspective, it's not just easier to obtain sodium than lithium but also more humane. There is an industry for ethically-sourced materials, and even if this doesn't completely replace lithium it can still significantly reduce the amount needed to meet demand, which can also encourage more ethical practices in that supply chain too, such as sourcing it from areas with stronger labor laws.

Open ##1567006
@BreakerSwitch@lemmy.world 2026-02-25 16:40

The harder to obtain materials aspect, while long term relevant, is barely a factor right now. Lithium production has exploded and resulted in a massive drop in prices that's making the main consumer appeal for sodium batteries, price, a non-factor and driving some sodium battery producers out of business

Open ##1567007