[from occupied ga]

I can’t speak about some totally unknown energy storage system, but part of my background was a thorough grounding in thermodynamics and chemistry. although a long time ago. Lithium is the best electron donor element at -3.05v sodium isn’t quite as good at -2.71. Lithium atomic weight = 7 sodium 23. One way to make EVs less expensive is to substitute much less expensive sodium for lithium, but it is not as good an electron donor, so you need more of it specifically 3.05/2.71 more of it. And also since each atom of sodium is about three times heavier than lithium you need 23/7 more weight. Altogether the sodium component would weigh about 3.7 times as much as the lithium component.

A Tesla model S weighs about 4600 lb. That’s more than my old Ford Econoline long wheelbase van weighed. Of which i think 138 lb is actually lithium and the battery overall is about 1300 lb. Going to sodium would be 511 lb adding about 373 lb to the overall weight of the car bringing it to 4973. Since all other factors being equal increasing the mass of the car increases the energy needed to move the car you’d need 4973/4600=1.081 times as much energy so your range would decrease by about 8%. Not a disaster, but another irritation. I personally think there are so many negatives to EVs I’ll never buy one, but I can see a niche market for a commuter car charge at home at night as long as it’s not your main means of transportation.

[GOPJ]

...can’t speak about some totally unknown energy storage system, but part of my background was a thorough grounding in thermodynamics and chemistry. although a long time ago. Lithium is the best electron donor element at -3.05v sodium isn’t quite as good at -2.71. Lithium atomic weight = 7 sodium 23...

One of the reasons I enjoy FreeRepublic is because people like you are here. Thanks for sharing.