Myth check
Was Aquion Energy too early for grid batteries?
Not a timing failure since 2026-10-25 · ledger #17
Its pitch depended on lithium-ion staying expensive.
Short answer
Aquion Energy made saltwater (aqueous sodium-ion) batteries for grid storage and filed for bankruptcy in March 2017. Its pitch was being cheaper and safer than lithium-ion, and lithium-ion then fell steeply in price. Like Solyndra, it was a cost-curve inversion: a later date would have been worse.
- Killing constraint
- Bet that lithium-ion stays expensive
E1 Cost curve - Why it is not timing
- Cost-curve inversion: it bet a rival technology stays expensive
Cheaper lithium-ion removed the reason to buy a different chemistry.
Graveyard
Companies that died proving people wanted this. Capital shown where it was disclosed.
| Company | Years | Capital | How it died | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquion Energy | 2008–2017 | — | Chapter 11, March 2017 | source M |