By Michael Kern – Jan 23, 2026, 2:00 PM CST The energy storage market has pivoted to a focus on financial stability and manufacturing yield, leading to the collapse of several undercapitalized, next-generation battery startups. A “Great Bifurcation” has emerged between the Western strategy of betting on premium, Solid-State technologies and China’s strategy of aggressively scaling “good enough” Sodium-Ion (Na-ion) and LFP batteries for geopolitical control. Fo...