• Bedrock Materials, a startup based in India, is developing sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries for gas-powered vehicles. The company believes that sodium-ion batteries can be a more cost-effective and sustainable solution for the automotive industry, especially in developing countries where the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is still relatively low.

• Bedrock Materials' approach is to target the existing gas-powered vehicle market, rather than focusing on the EV market. The company's CEO, Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar, argues that the infrastructure and manufacturing ecosystem for gas-powered vehicles is already well-established, making it a more viable option for the near-term adoption of their sodium-ion battery technology.

• The article also highlights the potential benefits of sodium-ion batteries, such as their lower cost, greater availability of raw materials, and improved safety compared to lithium-ion batteries. Bedrock Materials is currently working on prototypes and plans to begin commercial production of their sodium-ion batteries within the next few years, aiming to provide a more affordable and accessible energy storage solution for the automotive industry.