Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
@frankwunderli13.bsky.social
Journalist, technology, spaceflight, batteries, BatterySky
I can't count the number of times I've been told that sodium ion batteries are useless for regular EVs.
🔋CATL and Changan have announced the first mass-market EV with a sodium-ion battery.
The sedan finished its cold weather tests at -40 C and uses CATL’s Naxtra batteries.
This is another testament to the growing commercialization of sodium batteries.
#battchat #batteries #greensky #energysky
The sedan finished its cold weather tests at -40 C and uses CATL’s Naxtra batteries.
This is another testament to the growing commercialization of sodium batteries.
#battchat #batteries #greensky #energysky
February 6, 2026 at 2:58 PM
I can't count the number of times I've been told that sodium ion batteries are useless for regular EVs.
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
"Twitter is cooking their brains" theory looking pretty strong
Trump job approval rating by news platform
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
February 6, 2026 at 1:15 PM
"Twitter is cooking their brains" theory looking pretty strong
Electricity can be conducted by aluminum. Magnets can be made with iron. (Make motors weigh 2-3x as much, but electric motors are very light anyway.) Batteries don't need lithium, cobalt, nickel or graphite etc
There’s a definite “Peak Oil” vibe at the moment.
The “Rare Earths” aren’t necessarily rare, they’re just not in super high demand and the “Critical” in “Critical Minerals” is a policy decision.
All of this fretting could vanish with a minor geological or engineering discovery.
The “Rare Earths” aren’t necessarily rare, they’re just not in super high demand and the “Critical” in “Critical Minerals” is a policy decision.
All of this fretting could vanish with a minor geological or engineering discovery.
February 5, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Electricity can be conducted by aluminum. Magnets can be made with iron. (Make motors weigh 2-3x as much, but electric motors are very light anyway.) Batteries don't need lithium, cobalt, nickel or graphite etc
For 100 years or so world maps has the Kong Mountains in Africa. They were in encyclopedias, taught at schools. All geographers had them on their maps and ... they just didn't exist.
Nobody really checked if the mountains were there until the 1880s.
youtu.be/9yHAnfQ-a50?...
Nobody really checked if the mountains were there until the 1880s.
youtu.be/9yHAnfQ-a50?...
Fake Mountains Fooled the World for a Century
YouTube video by World Maps Online
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 1:30 PM
For 100 years or so world maps has the Kong Mountains in Africa. They were in encyclopedias, taught at schools. All geographers had them on their maps and ... they just didn't exist.
Nobody really checked if the mountains were there until the 1880s.
youtu.be/9yHAnfQ-a50?...
Nobody really checked if the mountains were there until the 1880s.
youtu.be/9yHAnfQ-a50?...
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
Epstein is being described by the Polish PM as a possible Russian spy. If so, it would explain a great deal. All the Epstein “evidence” would actually be kompromat taking in the rich and powerful to serve Kremlin interests. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 5:17 AM
Epstein is being described by the Polish PM as a possible Russian spy. If so, it would explain a great deal. All the Epstein “evidence” would actually be kompromat taking in the rich and powerful to serve Kremlin interests. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
There is a global fascist conspiracy. It's not a theory. It's real.
Always remember. Not defeating Russia is a choice that Europeans and Americans are making. Nothing more, nothing less.
February 4, 2026 at 10:26 AM
There is a global fascist conspiracy. It's not a theory. It's real.
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
If wafers of this 'thickness' become the industry standard, vs ~100-120 micrometers today - the volume of polysilicon/cell will fall 60-67%. Cell prices may fall 50% or more.
They cost $0.04/W out of an 11 cents/W module these. Might save two pennies, but lots of kWhs and emissions.
They cost $0.04/W out of an 11 cents/W module these. Might save two pennies, but lots of kWhs and emissions.
Hongyuan rolls out 40 µm ‘engineering-ready’ ultra-thin silicon wafers #energysky -- via pv magazine global:
Hongyuan rolls out 40 µm ‘engineering-ready’ ultra-thin silicon wafers
Hongyuan Green Energy says it has produced a first batch of 40 µm monocrystalline silicon wafers that support full-size and half-cut formats, with slicing completed using the company’s in-house wafering equipment.
www.pv-magazine.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:25 AM
If wafers of this 'thickness' become the industry standard, vs ~100-120 micrometers today - the volume of polysilicon/cell will fall 60-67%. Cell prices may fall 50% or more.
They cost $0.04/W out of an 11 cents/W module these. Might save two pennies, but lots of kWhs and emissions.
They cost $0.04/W out of an 11 cents/W module these. Might save two pennies, but lots of kWhs and emissions.
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
🔋Global lithium ion battery demand increased by 29% in 2025 to reach 1.59TWh.
Battery demand from BESS increased by 51%, compared with 26% for the EV sector, resulting in a continued rebalancing of demand towards stationary storage.
#batteries #battchat #energysky #greensky
Battery demand from BESS increased by 51%, compared with 26% for the EV sector, resulting in a continued rebalancing of demand towards stationary storage.
#batteries #battchat #energysky #greensky
Global lithium ion battery demand rose 29% in 2025
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, specialising in EV and battery supply chain research and insights, reports that global lithium ion battery demand increased by 29% in 2025 to reach 1.59TWh. This growth...
source.benchmarkminerals.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:44 PM
🔋Global lithium ion battery demand increased by 29% in 2025 to reach 1.59TWh.
Battery demand from BESS increased by 51%, compared with 26% for the EV sector, resulting in a continued rebalancing of demand towards stationary storage.
#batteries #battchat #energysky #greensky
Battery demand from BESS increased by 51%, compared with 26% for the EV sector, resulting in a continued rebalancing of demand towards stationary storage.
#batteries #battchat #energysky #greensky
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
Meanwhile a Falcon 9 upper-stage had another oopsie...
February 3, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Meanwhile a Falcon 9 upper-stage had another oopsie...
When it rains less, it's drought. When it rains more, it's floods.
Either way, all change is bad.
It's not.
Either way, all change is bad.
It's not.
What happens in the rapidly warming Arctic does not stay in the Arctic ...
New study: Arctic warming delays the African and Asian monsoon retreats, amplifying autumn rainfall [and causing extreme floods]
#climatecrisis
HT @carbonbrief.org
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
New study: Arctic warming delays the African and Asian monsoon retreats, amplifying autumn rainfall [and causing extreme floods]
#climatecrisis
HT @carbonbrief.org
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Arctic warming delays the Afro-Asian monsoon retreat amplifying autumn rainfall
Arctic warming delays the Afro-Asian monsoon retreat amplifying autumn rainfall, Zhang, Jie, Chen, Haishan, Ma, Weiqiang, Riaz, Rafi, Syed, Sidra, Ullah, Irfan, Shen, Jiayu
iopscience.iop.org
February 3, 2026 at 6:39 PM
When it rains less, it's drought. When it rains more, it's floods.
Either way, all change is bad.
It's not.
Either way, all change is bad.
It's not.
It's a very different world in Lithium compared to 2020 or 2015. Production is much more distributed - now over 30% outside of Chile, Argentina and Australia, which used to basically be the only meaningful producers in 2020 and Australia didn't make much in 2015 either.
📊 Explore updated data on metals and minerals—
Lithium is one of many critical minerals that we’ve come to rely on. It’s used in many industries, and is perhaps best known for its use in most rechargeable batteries.
Lithium is one of many critical minerals that we’ve come to rely on. It’s used in many industries, and is perhaps best known for its use in most rechargeable batteries.
February 3, 2026 at 6:29 PM
It's a very different world in Lithium compared to 2020 or 2015. Production is much more distributed - now over 30% outside of Chile, Argentina and Australia, which used to basically be the only meaningful producers in 2020 and Australia didn't make much in 2015 either.
Modern economy is all about creating artificial scarcity to impoverish the population and keep them in control.
This needs to end.
youtu.be/I2BnQmZZ2rI?...
This needs to end.
youtu.be/I2BnQmZZ2rI?...
How America Outlawed The Affordable Home
YouTube video by Spectacles
youtu.be
February 1, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Modern economy is all about creating artificial scarcity to impoverish the population and keep them in control.
This needs to end.
youtu.be/I2BnQmZZ2rI?...
This needs to end.
youtu.be/I2BnQmZZ2rI?...
Round them all up and send them to Greenland. I hear they really like it.
"President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country," Altman wrote. "I am encouraged by the last few hours of response and hope to see trust rebuilt with transparent investigations."
😐
😐
Read Sam Altman's internal Slack message to employees saying ICE 'is going too far'
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman privately wrote that part of being patriotic "is the American duty to push back against overreach."
www.businessinsider.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Round them all up and send them to Greenland. I hear they really like it.
Basically yes, but sodium ion batteries can be as good as LFP and used in all the same applications, if we go beyond the very near term. The LFP is limited to 500 Wh/kg (cathode material basis) but sodium can use layered oxides with more than that. (The problem is anode-side (charge-) density.)
📮 Are sodium-ion batteries finally ready for prime time?
This Lithium Horizons piece breaks down where Na-ion stands today and why it’s likely to complement, not replace, Li-ion in the near term.
#batteries #battchat #energysky #greensky
This Lithium Horizons piece breaks down where Na-ion stands today and why it’s likely to complement, not replace, Li-ion in the near term.
#batteries #battchat #energysky #greensky
Are sodium-ion batteries ready for prime time?
Where Na-ion stands in today's battery ecosystem
www.lithiumhorizons.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Basically yes, but sodium ion batteries can be as good as LFP and used in all the same applications, if we go beyond the very near term. The LFP is limited to 500 Wh/kg (cathode material basis) but sodium can use layered oxides with more than that. (The problem is anode-side (charge-) density.)
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
People need to shut up with their "both sides" bull crap.
At this point, IF there are only two sides, then it's US versus THE PEOPLE KILLING US. I can't believe I have to say this as if I was still teaching middle school, but THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO KILL ITS OWN CITIZENS.
At this point, IF there are only two sides, then it's US versus THE PEOPLE KILLING US. I can't believe I have to say this as if I was still teaching middle school, but THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO KILL ITS OWN CITIZENS.
January 26, 2026 at 5:40 PM
People need to shut up with their "both sides" bull crap.
At this point, IF there are only two sides, then it's US versus THE PEOPLE KILLING US. I can't believe I have to say this as if I was still teaching middle school, but THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO KILL ITS OWN CITIZENS.
At this point, IF there are only two sides, then it's US versus THE PEOPLE KILLING US. I can't believe I have to say this as if I was still teaching middle school, but THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO KILL ITS OWN CITIZENS.
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
Two weeks ago this guy announced he was providing legal help to the agent who shot Renee Good. That's how quickly the winds are shifting.
pretty wild statement re: Republican Chris Madel drop from race for MN governor:
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
January 26, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Two weeks ago this guy announced he was providing legal help to the agent who shot Renee Good. That's how quickly the winds are shifting.
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
3/ Second, the cause and scope of your awakening is relevant.
Are you here because the leopards eat your face?
Are you still on board with the leopards eating all of the other faces?
Has this experience given you any empathy for the faces you were cheering the leopards to eat last week?
Are you here because the leopards eat your face?
Are you still on board with the leopards eating all of the other faces?
Has this experience given you any empathy for the faces you were cheering the leopards to eat last week?
January 26, 2026 at 4:04 PM
3/ Second, the cause and scope of your awakening is relevant.
Are you here because the leopards eat your face?
Are you still on board with the leopards eating all of the other faces?
Has this experience given you any empathy for the faces you were cheering the leopards to eat last week?
Are you here because the leopards eat your face?
Are you still on board with the leopards eating all of the other faces?
Has this experience given you any empathy for the faces you were cheering the leopards to eat last week?
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
1/ Thoughts:
It's good when people who didn't agree with me change their minds.
However, exactly how much grace I offer them post-revelation depends on a range of factors.
My tent is big and so has room for many people.
It's also large enough that I can let someone in but not sit with them.
It's good when people who didn't agree with me change their minds.
However, exactly how much grace I offer them post-revelation depends on a range of factors.
My tent is big and so has room for many people.
It's also large enough that I can let someone in but not sit with them.
Bluesky idea: if people who didn't agree with you change their opinions so that they do agree with you, why not be happy that you are making progress - rather than complaining that they are "only just catching up"?
January 26, 2026 at 4:04 PM
1/ Thoughts:
It's good when people who didn't agree with me change their minds.
However, exactly how much grace I offer them post-revelation depends on a range of factors.
My tent is big and so has room for many people.
It's also large enough that I can let someone in but not sit with them.
It's good when people who didn't agree with me change their minds.
However, exactly how much grace I offer them post-revelation depends on a range of factors.
My tent is big and so has room for many people.
It's also large enough that I can let someone in but not sit with them.
If anybody needs proof of the recent incompetence at SpaceX.
This should have been done before everything else.
This should have been done before everything else.
Uhhhh, SpaceX testing Starship tiles on Falcon 9 fairings now ?
January 26, 2026 at 5:29 AM
If anybody needs proof of the recent incompetence at SpaceX.
This should have been done before everything else.
This should have been done before everything else.
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
Things to learn from the American Revolution that may apply today. I wrote these to explain the significance of that era, but it is very applicable today
January 25, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Things to learn from the American Revolution that may apply today. I wrote these to explain the significance of that era, but it is very applicable today
Reposted by Frank Wunderlich-Pfeiffer
When you realize you used your influential platform to make this version of our country happen
January 24, 2026 at 11:03 PM
When you realize you used your influential platform to make this version of our country happen
C'mon. You're waaaaaay behind the curve. The minimum *now* is the entire government being removed.
Dems just want to preserve the power structure they hope to rule within. But this too is untenable.
This *is* a Revolution now. Nothing less.
Dems just want to preserve the power structure they hope to rule within. But this too is untenable.
This *is* a Revolution now. Nothing less.
Abolish ICE is now the moderate minimum position,
Prosecute ICE is where Dems should be at next.
Prosecute ICE is where Dems should be at next.
January 25, 2026 at 3:18 AM
C'mon. You're waaaaaay behind the curve. The minimum *now* is the entire government being removed.
Dems just want to preserve the power structure they hope to rule within. But this too is untenable.
This *is* a Revolution now. Nothing less.
Dems just want to preserve the power structure they hope to rule within. But this too is untenable.
This *is* a Revolution now. Nothing less.
This could be the start of the revolution. Typical event for this sort of thing.
Initial report is that two observers got into a shoving match with eight agents, one observer was wrestled to the ground, and then an ICE agent pulled out a sidearm and shot the man on the ground five times.
January 24, 2026 at 5:50 PM
This could be the start of the revolution. Typical event for this sort of thing.
One of the reasons I never really used it in the first place.
January 22, 2026 at 6:12 PM
One of the reasons I never really used it in the first place.