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A loadium of sodium: why are sodium-ion batteries exciting?
(cosmosmagazine.com)
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this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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so how long before they're ready for consumer use (as LiFePO4's are)? 5 years?
They have already started mass production of the cells at CATL, etc. I would guess building packs and larger products on that will take some development, a year or two? But I see 18650 sodium ion cells on Alibaba, although I couldn't say if they are actually as advertised.
Edit, I suppose it depends what you mean by consumer use. Are you asking when they'll be in every corner hardware store? Or when people can buy cells/packs for DIY projects online (which would be something you can do now).
They're already in cars that ship this month in limited numbers and the processes are designed to slot into LFP equipment. So I'd say we'll start seeing them next year.
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow, you're always a day away!
it said in the article that they expect about 5 years. but we'll see!
Lol, exactly. Aren't all new battery developments always "in about 5 years"? I'm hoping for the best but not holding my breath.
They've been in limited commercial use for high safety applications for a few year sand they're in mass production using most of the same equipment as lithium. There are three car models in china being released with them this year.
"About 5 years" in this context means 5 years until up-stream supply chains are efficient and they are roughly where LFP is now.