Salt Based Batteries - when two things are true?

[Jon Freise]

There are multiple narratives about how the future might turn out.  Picking just two from a vast multitude:

Technology will improve so much so fast that everyone (all 11 billion)  will be able to enjoy a US lifestyle.

Another is that climate change and other ecological devastation will end human civilization as we know it.

The interesting thing is that while those two outcomes are incompatible, both driving forces can easily co-exist.

Here is an interesting example:  Salt based batteries for two wheel electric scooters.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250530-how-electric-scooters-are-driving-chinas-salt-battery-push

Powered by solar panels, these could bring inexpensive, fast but short distance transport.  All without the air pollution that today kills millions.

Salt is abundant and inexpensive.  It can be harvested out of the ocean.  There is enough that probably everyone could have an electric scooter.  (Or an electric assist bike.) Not the US lifestyle or infrastructure, but not 1850's either.

The forces of increasing costs from depletion and the damage wrought pollution are going to both increase rapidly in this next century.  And technology is going to change and create new opportunities.

As elite infighting disables the ability of the US government to act and large scale industry to operate, small scale consumers will find ways to keep moving forward.  I can imagine small solar systems with batteries that can charge cell phones, an electric bike.  Somewhere are chillers for fresh food.  And electric laundry washers.  Very selective uses of energy to save labor and reduce waste.  Those that are small enough to be resilient in the face of forced moves and low availability of capital.

Wishing everyone the best as the weather warms and green returns to the landscape but the smoke reminds us the world is indeed burning.

Cheers,

-Jon

[Brad Neuhauser]

I saw that BBC article as well. It was interesting that while salt batteries aren't as efficient as lithium (so not as good for larger vehicles going longer distances), they seem promising for many other uses. In addition to smaller, shorter range vehicles like scooters, the article pointed out they might on balance be a better option for large stationary battery facilities as well.  And they actually perform nearly the same in cold weather, which is a big difference compared to lithium! Cheers, Brad

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