JAC Motors, a Volkswagen-backed Chinese automaker, unveiled the first mass-produced EV with a sodium-ion battery through its new Yiwei brand. Although sodium-ion battery tech has a lower density than lithium-ion, its lower costs, simpler and more abundant supplies and superior cold-weather performance could help accelerate mass EV adoption.
The issue in the US is the frankly terrible mass transit system in a lot of smaller towns and rural areas. There is no way we are going to get that infrastructure anytime soon (not saying we shouldn’t get it underway, it will just take a while), so getting folks to EVs is a good interim. Plus there will always be people that need cars for specific jobs (my partner does home health as an example). EVs are certainly better for the environment than gas cars, even when you take into account the mining necessary. I’d rather have some progress than an all or nothing approach.
https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths