Roundtables: Why 2026 Is the Year for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Available only for MIT Alumni and subscribers.

Listen to the session or watch below

Sodium-based batteries could be a cheaper, safer alternative to lithium-ion, and the technology is finally making its way into cars—and energy storage arrays on the grid. Sodium-ion batteries are one of MIT Technology Review's 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2026 list, and this subscriber-only discussion explains why.

Watch a discussion exploring the present moment for sodium-ion batteries—and what’s coming next.

Speakers: Mary Beth Griggs, Science Editor; Casey Crownhart, Senior Climate Reporter; and Caiwei Chen, China Reporter

Recorded on February 25, 2026

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• Sodium-ion batteries: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2026
• What’s next for EV batteries in 2026 | MIT Technology Review
• These new batteries are finding a niche | MIT Technology Review
• 2025 Climate Tech Companies to Watch: HiNa Battery Technology and its effort to commercialize salt cells
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