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15 Feb ’12
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this could be huge for alternatives
The first prototype of a sodium-ion battery has just been revealed by the RS2E, a French network bringing together researchers and industrial actors. This technology, inspired by the lithium-ion batteries already used in portable computers and electric vehicles, could lead to the mass storage of intermittent renewable energy sources.
The announcement should cause a stir in the highly competitive world of batteries. French researchers from the RS2E network1 today revealed the first prototype of the sodium-ion "18650" battery, a standard format used notably in portable computers. The information may not sound exciting to non-specialists... Yet scientists across the globe, including the US, Japan, the UK, and Israel, are working on this technology—which today is considered the most serious alternative to the lithium-ion batteries that equip practically all portable electronic devices (portable computers, tablets, smartphones...)—and are beginning to take a serious look at electric vehicles. The battery used for Tesla cars, for example, is nothing more than the combination of several thousand "18650" lithium-ion batteries.
more https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/a-battery-revolution-in-motion
26 Nov ’15
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Batteries have been the pivot point for many technologies. The main hold backs have been weight and use of 'rarer' elements. Weight factors into mobility (as in cars OR brick sized cell phones if cheaper batteries used) and rarer elements factor into price. Another factor that is not much known or appreciated is re-charge-ability. Cheaper elements are used in small (AAA, AA, etc.) batteries that are disposed of because they aren't re-charged. And even rechargeable batteries need to be used and recharged in a certain manner or 'patterning' (basically memory of charge) occurs.
It would have been insightful if this article has given a power/weight ratio comparison between lithium, sodium and lead type batteries. And if sodium did turn out to be the ticket to better storage and use, will that technology get bought up and shelved so that current industries can remain and continue being profitable? That's another element in this equation.
Fingers crossed that sanity and trust will prevail.
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