with so much bs going around the lithium space I thought I should replay the part below from this report https:// w w w. i d t e c h e x . com/en/research-report/sodium-ion-batteries-2023-2033-technology-players-markets-and-forecasts/933
What markets exist for sodium-ion batteries?
Although Na-ion technology mimics Li-ion with similar types of electrodes and electrolytes, Na is three times heavier than Li and has redox potential 300mV lower, which inherently reduces the energy density of Na-ion technology by at least ∼30% compared to Li-ion. This gap will prevail forever, because progress that could be made at the materials level for Na will always be mirrored with progresses on Li, since we are dealing with the same family of materials. So straightforwardly, the usage of Na-ion technology alone in applications requiring high energy density, such as battery electric cars is partly eliminated. However, in applications where energy density is not as critical for e.g. stationary energy storage, electric two- and three-wheelers, and electric microcars, Na-ion batteries can be ideal due to their power, safety, and cost characteristics. Currently, very few players have commercial products on the market, and even those with products available are supplying in limited quantities for trial projects to verify the use-case of Na-ion batteries. IDTechEx expects new announcements and partnerships to be announced as Na-ion battery technology moves from the research to commercialization stage in the medium term.
(20min delay)