• ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    40
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    3 months ago

    These will be useless for EV’s, but great for storage. They aren’t energy dense enough for what the EV market needs.

    Samsungs solid state EV batteries are currently the only positive step towards EV replacement and production vehicles are set to start rolling out around 2027. They’re supposed to be lighter, last more cycles, charge faster, more energy dense, and safer than current EV liquid lithium batteries.

    The sodium ion batteries will be great for large scale solar storage and house/business solar storage. They should let someone build a solar powered house that could continuously run completely off grid without needing to use lithium batteries that would need replaced every 10 to 15 years.

    • lud@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      3 months ago

      I can’t remember the name but I’m pretty sure some Chinese EV manufacturer has started to make EVs with salt batteries already.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Why not? From what I’ve seen, they’re about 75% as energy dense as lithium, and a lot cheaper. So if the Chevy Bolt gets 200-250 miles range on lithium batteries, I’d expect 150+ miles w/ sodium-ion, which is plenty for my commute. If the battery costs half as much and lasts 5-10 years, I’d buy that to replace my commuter in a heartbeat. Give me a commuter at $15-20k w/ 150 miles range and I’ll buy.

      • KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        these batteries are a lot cheaper, and a lot more cycle resistant, which is what you primarily do for stationary storage, i think they’re probably safer as well?

        It would make some EVs cheaper, but they would have less range, and it’s probably a little redundant considering you could just use less lithium ion batts instead.

        Like the commenter said, we should be focusing on the solid state batts that samsung is fucking with, those are have REAL potential to be significantly better for EVs.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          3 months ago

          A solid state battery would likely be able to replace my family car, but I don’t need that for a commuter, I just need the battery to be cheaply replaceable and enough range to get to work and back. I think we should be looking at both options.

          • KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            i mean sure, personally i doubt it’ll happen, im assuming they’re focusing on developing better battery tech first and foremost, though im guessing sodium ions would probably make their way into EVs eventually.

            • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              3 months ago

              They already are… in China. I’m saying we should do that here in the US. We have the battery plant, so let’s put them in some inexpensive cars to replace commuters.

              • KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                3 months ago

                i dont think we’ve even broken ground on a sodium ion plant let alone making and production testing batteries for the market to begin with. I’ve got nothing aginst it, and EV manufacturers are probably going to do it, but whatever

                Also you can buy a used prius for pretty cheap? The batteries aren’t that expensive to replace if they go bad/are bad.

                • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  3 months ago

                  Yup, and I currently drive a Prius. I’m looking at used Bolts ($13-15k used), but I’m a little worried about fire risk (it’ll be parked in my attached garage) and battery repair is going to be super expensive. A new sodium ion EV that’s much cheaper (say, $15-20k) would be attractive, but I’m definitely not paying >$30k for a commuter.

                  • KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    3 months ago

                    yeah idk personally i feel like i would just live with the prius until i could get my hands on something truly more accessible to the market, which is inevitable at this rate.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          3 months ago

          If they also see a lower price, they’ll be more interested.

          And this doesn’t need to appeal to every car buyer, there’s a market for budget-friendly cars with a narrow use-case. 150 miles is plenty for a second car, and would probably not appeal to people looking for a primary car, whereas 250 miles kind of bridges that gap. Segment the market and it should do well.

    • frezik
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      3 months ago

      Sodium ion batteries on the market right now are about the same weight density as lithium poly batteries from a few years ago. It takes a few years for a newly manufactured battery to find its way into actual EV models. That means the newer sodium batteries have about the same performance as batteries in EVs right now. They’re also cheaper and are made of more abundant materials.

      Don’t write off sodium batts in cars too quickly.

      • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        3 months ago

        The factory making these is still like 6 years out. The ones on market are like 65% energy dense, and lithium tech has only gained a few percent a year, so I don’t know where you’re getting your thoughts from. For EV’S, sodium ion is going to be a far shot behind solid state. By the time sodium could catch up to being close to today’s lithium batts, solid state will be far cheaper and have a huge power density advantage.

        • frezik
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          3 months ago

          Volkswagen id4 today has a battery of 168 wh/kg:

          https://www.batterydesign.net/vw-id-4-82kwh-battery/

          CATL launched a 160 wh/kg sodium battery in 2021:

          https://www.catl.com/en/news/665.html

          They are already gearing up for production of 200 wh/kg sodium batteries, and in talks with automakers about it:

          https://www.electrive.com/2024/05/06/catl-gears-up-for-next-gen-sibs-and-global-licensing/

          If the id4 on sale now has enough range for you, then a sodium ion version will give the same while being cheaper and having fewer fire concerns. Solid state lithium will be nice, but expect them in more expensive models.

          • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            Even if they manage to “gear up” and make it to 200 wh/kg, that’s years away and TODAY lithium EV batts are hitting 270 wh/kg. 35% more energy dense.

            • frezik
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              3 months ago

              And you’ll spend more money to get that. Not every EV needs the most capacity out there.

              • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                edit-2
                3 months ago

                If your ev isn’t good enough for a road trip, that means for like 90% of you, you have to own another vehicle.

                • frezik
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  3 months ago

                  I have such an ev right now that’s in line with the numbers we’re talking about here. It’s good enough for a road trip. We’re trying to sell our only ICE car now because we’re not using it.

              • frezik
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                3 months ago

                It’s actually been about 8% in recent years, but historically 5%. We’ll see which one holds, but either compounds to doubling capacity in shorter time than you might think.

                • KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  3 months ago

                  yeah, you would expect it to slow down over time, given the ever encroaching theoretical limits of technology, but obviously that depends on how far that is from here. Otherwise you generally expect to see an increase likely proportional to the amount of sold product (more R&D funding) as well as a function of competition, which is pretty high right now.

    • frezik
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      deleted by creator