A suitable substituteCathodes require nickel and lithium. Both are cheap and readily available.
As everyone here knows, graphite is required big time for annode material.
Sourcing annode material from China, which has been producing the lions share, makes the EVs sold in the U.S. unable to receive the $7,500.00 credit.
Synthetic graphite is available as a substitute for natural I believe.
I don't know who makes it or how difficult it is, but maybe that's where the other half of the battery will come from.