Another one, with is expectations and hurdles. ---> https://sodiumbatteryhub.com/2025/05/07/aeson-power-presents-sodium-battery-innovation-at-ees-europe-2025/

12 hours ago, Externet said:

Another one, with is expectations and hurdles. ---> https://sodiumbatteryhub.com/2025/05/07/aeson-power-presents-sodium-battery-innovation-at-ees-europe-2025/

You and I had a brief exchange on this 2 years ago, here: https://scienceforums.net/topic/131641-the-sodium-battery-taking-off-any-expert-opinions-please/#comment-1239819

In which I summarised the principle of operation and challenges for the Na battery, at least as I understood them from quickly reading it up. From your post it isn’t clear what has now changed. It looks like just marketing blurb with nothing about the science. Is there more?

Hi. The 'progress' is a couple of factories pedaling up manufacturing near silicon valley and another in China and Europe, from what I read.

I do not know yet the consequences of catching fire in electric vehicles compared to lithium, and trying to extinguish with water...

2 hours ago, Externet said:

Hi. The 'progress' is a couple of factories pedaling up manufacturing near silicon valley and another in China and Europe, from what I read.

I do not know yet the consequences of catching fire in electric vehicles compared to lithium, and trying to extinguish with water...

Oh I see. Well that is good news certainly. Li extraction is very messy and largely in the hands of China.

Do we know what they use as cathode and as electrolyte? The fire issue with Li+ seems to be the use of an inflammable electrolyte and also that oxygen can be released from some components in a fire, making it impossible to smother.

Worth keeping in mind that LFP type lithium batteries are becoming the dominant type - and they have low fire risk. They don't need cobalt amongst other advantages. Our solar batteries and electric ride-on mower are LFP - the mower rated at 3,000 cycles, so at the rate we use it... over 60 years. (Hah! That won't happen but battery should last the life of the mower. Long lifetime is a significant factor).

I think some emerging Sodium batteries do rely on cobalt in their cathode, but others do not. I'm in wait and see mode.

With mass manufacture Sodium might undercut lithium for many purposes. Not sure to what extent the costs of the materials sets the price or if it is manufacturing costs; a bit of both no doubt. Supply constraints emerging for lithium (or nickel or cobalt) might be the factor that decides in favour of alternatives.