On October 9, 2019, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry would be awarded to John B. goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino in recognition of their "development of lithium ion batteries".

They have created a rechargeable world - now, this lightweight, rechargeable and powerful lithium-ion battery is used worldwide to power portable electronic devices. We use these portable electronic devices to communicate, work, learn, listen to music and find knowledge. It has also facilitated the development of long-range electric vehicles and the storage of energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind energy, making possible a fossil fuel free society.