Should I wait to buy an EV until the new battery tech arrives?

CATL's sodium-ion batteries reach passenger EVs by the end of 2026 and MG's semi-solid-state MG4 follows — but today's LFP EVs are already strong, so the right answer depends on your timing.

It depends on your clock — two genuinely new battery chemistries are arriving in real cars in 2026–27. CATL has confirmed its sodium-ion “Naxtra” batteries roll out in passenger EVs by the end of 2026: sodium is far more abundant than lithium, and the cells keep working in extreme cold, retaining roughly 90% of their capacity at −40°C. MG says its semi-solid-state MG4 reaches Europe by the end of 2026 with better range, faster charging, and longer battery life.

If you can comfortably wait 12–18 months, holding out could buy you more range and better winter performance for similar money. But don’t let “next-gen battery” anxiety freeze you: today’s lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) EVs already deliver strong range, long lifespan, and much lower running costs than gas cars. The best car is the one you actually need now — not the perfect one two model years away.