BenK wrote:
Kinda sorta for now...but...
Recycling of used Lithium batteries hasn't even hit its stride yet...
https://cen.acs.org/materials/energy-storage/time-serious-recycling-lithium/97/i28
https://cen.acs.org/materials/energy-storage/time-serious-recycling-lithium/97/i28
Then the largest lithium mine in the USA, but hasn't begun to mine yet.
https://investingtrends.com/AWLIF/the-lithium-wars-us-vs-china/?utm_campaign=AWLIF_BF&utm_source=82507&utm_medium=search&gclid=CjwKCAjwoP6LBhBlEiwAvCcthAGakD2FIQz6dTX7G6QT1u5W09repC3szTZeajFKH4nqVzhxJdg59RoC5DMQAvD_BwE
https://investingtrends.com/AWLIF/the-lithium-wars-us-vs-china/?utm_campaign=AWLIF_BF&utm_source=82507&utm_medium=search&gclid=CjwKCAjwoP6LBhBlEiwAvCcthAGakD2FIQz6dTX7G6QT1u5W09repC3szTZeajFKH4nqVzhxJdg59RoC5DMQAvD_BwE
California has a huge potential source and hasn't begun to mine yet
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-11-19/california-s-salton-sea-could-contain-lithium-for-electric-car-batteries
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-11-19/california-s-salton-sea-could-contain-lithium-for-electric-car-batteries
Then there is the Peruvian lithium potential
https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/falchani-lithium-project-puno/
https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/falchani-lithium-project-puno/
At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean are nodules of precious metals
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/20000-feet-under-the-sea/603040/
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/20000-feet-under-the-sea/603040/
China is the 'current' largest source of lithium and they are playing it very, very well. The general public has taken that hook line and sinker.
Not just lithium either. As the other rare metales are in the contacts and the why so many are researching into using iron or more common metal.
Does anyone remember that we were suppposed to have run out of crude by now? They have been 'finding' new areas all the time. Note that all of the charts/graphs/etc has fine print : "know reserves"...
Thermoguy wrote:
Tesla's supplier of batteries are made by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co out of China. The Lithium used comes from mostly China but also South America. The Lithium mines in the US do not supply enough Lithium for cars, so not used by any car battery manufacturer. I have been researching Lithium battery companies for about a year, and this is what I read every time I come across info on EV's.
Edit...wacky in that the clickable link doesn't work...so use the real address if you want to read those articles
Thank you for making my point - the resources are not US so, not made in America. And, the environmental hazards with these batteries are huge - so not so green. It will be years before any Lithium is mined in the US due to environmental protection, but in other countries like China, they can strip mine all they want. Same with south America, so many like to call oil production bad for the environment, but the raw minerals for battery production is very bad if not worst.
I have seen that Sodium Ion is a possible future battery for cars. This is much less harmful than Lithium but doesn't hold the power, or requires a larger battery. So, this is a ways off.
