I'll nick the second story for the infrastructure thread Gibbo, interesting bit of window dressing but probably best implemented a few years ago together with a few enforceable rules like mandatory access for all without having to join a "club", before the stable door was opened and the horses bolted.
REgards Neilhttps://cleantechnica.com/2021/09/14/ne ... ew-really/
"In July of this year, CATL announced it had developed sodium-ion battery cells with an energy density of 160 Wh/kg. The best lithium-ion cells can store 240 Wh/kg, but LFP cells are close to that 160 Wh/kg figure. CATL says it plans to get the energy density of its sodium batteries up to 200 Wh/kg by the time production begins in 2023. In August, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it would prioritize the development, standardization, and commercialization of sodium-ion technology.
In the battery world and EV's in General, China's BYD are worth watching, they appear to be pushing themselves ahead of the competition. Sleeping, can't do, can't keep up, things are going faster than we can cope with, cosy price cartel, European carmakers beware.LG Energy Solution is developing LFP battery cells
The upcoming end of patent restrictions on LFP and the recent problems with fires in NCM battery cells seem to have pushed LG Energy Solution to consider the super-safe and inexpensive LFP chemistry.
Patent restrictions over LFP cathode chemistry will start to expire in 2022, then battery cell makers will be able to produce LFP cells outside China without paying royalties.
Nissan at SunderlandBritishVolt at BlythRegards NeilCoventry
West Midlands Gigafactory, the public-private joint venture between Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport Ltd
BYD's blade battery has a bit of an edge in that packs constructed with the blade battery can currently achieve energy densities in excess of its competitors. Tesla batteries with CATL cells come to an energy density of 126 Wh/kg, but the blade batteries come to 150 Wh/kg.Tesla announced in the context of its most recent financial results that it will switch these standard-range models to LFP batteries worldwide. Until now, Tesla has relied on LFP cells from CATL for the standard range models built in Shanghai.
No doubt CATL, pretty much in the lead on Sodium Ion battery chemistry development, and others will respond, catch up, overtake, as competition spurs rapid development.In addition to the cobalt-free cell chemistry (as with all LFP cells), the blade batteries are also said to offer low costs. The portal PushEVs writes of “an estimated 55 euros per kilowatt-hour”, or 64 dollars/kWh. BYD itself also repeatedly emphasises the high safety of the blade battery compared to other lithium-ion batteries. Later, BYD stated in another announcement that the battery should last 1.2 million kilometres or 3,000 charging cycles.
