164
CATL says next-gen sodium-ion battery supports 500 km range, readies for 2026 mass production (carnewschina.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/48958993

energy density of 175 Wh/kg

CATL explained that sodium-ion batteries have slightly lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries but provide distinct advantages in low-temperature performance, carbon footprint, and safety.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 15 points 1 year ago (11 children)

They are cheaper and the low temperature performance is better than LFP, but the round trip efficiency is less than LFP.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 11 child comments
    •
  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    Question is.... How much cheaper...

    LFP is almost at the price point we could all have a freezer sized battery pack in our house, drastically changing the grid, and allowing a place for all that wind/solar to store energy.

    If Sodium is a fair chunk cheaper, then it will totally be worth buying a house battery pack. Buying energy on the cheap at certain times of day, and using the battery when energy prices are high.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Potentially 1/10th the price according to this video I stumbled on about it a couple of days ago!

    https://youtu.be/Wf84NJSiAeU

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    They also have better thermal stability, so less risk of uncontrolled fires.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    AFAIK, LFP thermal runaway can't start fires. NMC or other lithium chemistries can and they scare me, but LFPs are pretty damn safe. That being said, I'm still stoked for sodium chemistries to be developed. If the round trip efficiency issues can be solved, then I think it'll be a great solution for residential power storage.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

    What does round trip efficiency mean here?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    How much energy you get out of a full charge, divided by how much energy you need to fully charge it. It’s around the 90% mark for lithium based tech, no idea what it is for these sodium ones

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    The numbers I've seen: LFP: mid 90s Sodium: low to mid 80s

    LFP seems better for cars unless you live in an area that deals with extreme cold. Sodium is better (cheaper) for fixed, large quantity storage where energy density is not as critical and lower efficiency is an acceptable trade off for lower price.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    As long as the efficiency is outweighed by price, it could move us in the right direction. Hopefully we can pick up the efficiency in time. These would also be good for my future load-shifting (charge during off peak, low carbon electricity) and maybe solar system at home.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent