For all the recent talk of potential substitutes of lithium in next-gen batteries this element is very unlikely to cede the crown anytime soon. Even if greener and more cost effective materials can be developed, simple physics intervenes to make the switch unappetizing. There is simply nothing on the periodic table that can best lithium’s energy density and low density.

The amount of juice lithium can hold is a hard act to follow but not even magic can deliver an alternative compound half as light as water. That right there is the unsurmountable obstacle. One of the primary directives in the design of electric vehicles is making them as light as possible as this directly translates to their efficiency and range. A lithium substitute that is twice as dense would need to be at least twice as good at holding charge in order for it to be a viable replacement candidate. And there just aren’t any such possibilities this side of science fiction.

That isn’t to say that potential tech advancements may relieve the pressure in other areas where weight is less of a concern. Unfortunately, the two most high profile uses (cars and mobile phones) do require batteries as light as possible. It is much likelier, at least in the near future, that lithium-ion technology will be improved in measured changes than a revolutionary new lithium-free technology will suddenly appear.