GM Backs Sodium Ion Batteries for U.S. Grid Storage

(spectrum.ieee.org)

54 points | by rbanffy 1 hour ago

5 comments

  • TwiztidK 25 minutes ago
    My company operates two Jupiter Power owned LFP batteries in the MISO market. Each of them draws .5 - 2MW constantly for the HVAC system. If the cost for sodium batteries is similar to LFP, that alone would be a reason to switch.
  • SubiculumCode 32 minutes ago
    I want to replace my Lithium home battery, and what I really want to do it to move to one of the new sodium ion batteries..e.g like the one CATL is supposed to have at some point?

    Anyone have a good idea when these will be available for consumers?

    • hunterpayne 2 minutes ago
      Hopefully never. If they ever do, it means the local government truly doesn't care about you anymore.

      Na is basically Li times 30. This is good in that they make really effective batteries. This is bad in that when the battery malfunctions, the energy is released at 30x the rate. So remember when that Telsa caught fire and the driver walked away very scared but ok. If those were Na-ion, they wouldn't be ok...or alive...or recognizable as human. Basically, these are far too dangerous for consumer use. And any grid scale battery will need about a mile of gravel around them to prevent any fires or deaths from explosions.

    • rapsey 7 minutes ago
      Why? You also need to replace your inverter in that case.
    • XorNot 24 minutes ago
      Why would you replace it? That asset likely has at least 10 years in it if you already have it.
  • cyberax 13 minutes ago
    Keep in mind, we could have had local Na-Ion battery production in the US. The company producing them needed about $5m of bridge loans, with products already sitting in warehouses awaiting the UL certification.

    This company got sold for scrap.

    • petcat 12 minutes ago
      your comment would be more interesting if you actually provided any details at all
  • cramer4next 10 minutes ago
    Its a failure in the U.S. because the bet is on solid state batteries. Personally I won't take the EV plunge until they have those. The only exception for me to not wait would be the 10k BYD car. At that price point and it lasted 3 years i'd be happy.
    • otterley 6 minutes ago
      This is for grid storage, not EVs.
  • tootie 32 minutes ago
    > Peak Energy is buying its commercial cells via contracts with Chinese suppliers

    So really just assembly and sales then. I suppose it's a good start and maybe if business takes off they can figure out their own cells.