Sodium-ion batteries can not store as much energy as lithium....

Sodium-ion batteries can not store as much energy as lithium. Physics limits it. They will however offer a reasonable substitute for low km transportation (think ebikes or small commute driving) but lithium will stay king of EV's for the foreseeable future. When cars began replacing horses there was also plenty of resistance, for similar reasons that you pointed out with the combustion engine to ev transition. But change is inevitable, the ones who transition there industries early will prosper, those who dont will become obsolete. Legislation around the world is being or has been written to ban combustion engines in the near future, that alone will increase demand, that will incentivise supply, which will reduce the price, which increases demand etc etc. developing countries benefit immensely from the transition, for the simple fact that energy will be decentralised, no specific countries will have monopolies and any country can generate there own energy.