Ending the Lithium Monopoly

The electric vehicle (EV) market saw a huge change in January 2026. Scientists’ alternative, considering the high cost and environmental issues of lithium, is now commercially successful.

Sodium-ion batteries are now the new king of the battery market in 2026. It has taken the top spot in MIT Technology Review’s 2026 ‘Breakthrough Technologies’ list.

The production cost of these batteries is 30%-40% lower than that of lithium-ion batteries because they use common salt or sodium instead of lithium. In early 2026, China’s CATL and several Indian startups announced they will use sodium batteries exclusively in affordable electric vehicles.

As a result, buying an electric car is now within reach for the middle class. Sodium-ion batteries are cheaper, safer than lithium batteries, and perform better in extreme temperatures.

The economic impact of this change has brought a new twist in geopolitics. The world market’s dependence on the “lithium triangle” of South America is now starting to decline.

With sodium (salt) widely available worldwide, countries no longer need to depend on specific nations for energy security. This 2026 trend is decentralizing the battery supply chain and bringing the green transition forward by several years. Energy experts are referring to this transformative movement as the “salt revolution.”