The irony. The idea behind sodium was a non-asian, cost competitive supply chain.
this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2026
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China being first to market with a new battery technology is not surprising. The difference is that the manufacturing process is not reliant on China's Lithium supply chain.
This isn't just about lithium. No nickel, cobalt or even copper is used.
Oh yes. They can have the sodium up faster. It's that Europe has decided to buy Chinese sodium batteries than support their own production of sodium that's ironic. That to me sends a message to the European sodium industry: "even if your manufacturing is (or can be) independent of China, we will still buy China as long as they're cheaper and we can buy from them, and whilst that is true, we won't support your (sodium battery industry in Europe) development."
Of course, I'm generalising a little, this is but one company. But it's definitely a sizeable order. Beyond what one might call a pilot trial of a technology.
The difference is that the manufacturing process is not reliant on China's Lithium supply chain.
A more accurate statement I could make is that manufacturing does not need to depend on the China's Lithium supply chain. As this technology matures, domestic manufacturing of this technology will be possible.
Agreed. But the technology can only mature if it's growth is supported in the domestic context. By buying Chinese, the growth of the technology in China is supported and the contrary is as a result, effectively discouraged.
It sends a message to early investors that early investment is not rewarded in Europe. In the future when Europe wants domestic production, will they be able to recruit the necessary talent? To buy the technology? Can they bring it up to scale within a reasonable time frame?
No, same thing will happen that has happened to the lithium ion battery companies that are all falling apart despite significant investment.
CATL is installing 60 Gwh of these batteries in China. They are far beyond pilots.
So we agree.
The difference is CATL spends money on scientists , engineers and research. US spends money on CEO yachts.
Im excited about sodium ion batteries, they seem to work without cobalt and nickel.
Or copper. Just aluminum.