The most expensive component of electric vehicles is the battery. In the quest to reduce costs, various forms of energy storage are currently undergoing transformation. This article will analyse what lithium and sodium batteries are, their role in the energy transition, the main companies investing in these technologies, and the challenges involved in extracting the minerals associated with their production.

The European Union has trade agreements with over 100 countries. It hopes to sign 50 additional agreements in the coming years. Meanwhile, the EU–US trade agreement promoted by Trump in July 2025 has been suspended. This is due to Trump’s tariff announcements after the agreement, the Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs, and the threat to annex Greenland.