This is a very simplified project to prove the concept and provide a test bed for further exploration, not an end-product by any stretch. This seems like the perfect project to test various membranes and electrolyte solutions.
Because you don't want to snap your spine in a minor fender bender.
Scratch built is not the same thing as an EV conversion kit, where all the hard stuff (like a frame and body panels) was already made by commercial manufacturers.
This flow battery is from scratch (well except for the pumps and electronics, but the cell itself is). They are not using off the shelf electrolyte and electrochemical cells like a flow battery kit would.
It's a neat project and would teach a lot, but I just cannot find a scenario in my head where I would want this (even a scaled up version) over another solution.
https://www.solarcarchallenge.org/challenge/about.shtml
https://www.solarcarchallenge.org/challenge/docs/rules2023.p...
You would be ok getting into an accident with one the same as you would get in an accident driving a civic?
Or maybe those are just learning vehicles meant to teach, and not meant to be car replacements? Just like this flow battery project?
Ironically your post validates my whole point: This is a student project at best, and likely worthless as a "democratization of energy storage". The same way those EV's would never be considered "democratization of EV cars".
C'mon...
Our small team is fully qualified to work at any flow battery company. Just give us some time and let us work on it full-time for a bit (which will happen soon). The linked post on top was a blogpost I cranked out in a few minutes one night, not something I ever expected to be on HN.