Lithium Shortages in Future?

[webfarmer]

And we'll blame the electric vehicle industry if so? Sounds like the jury is still out on this one. The good thing about higher prices for operating the standard model is that you get innovation.

Electric-Car Race Could Strain Lithium Battery Supply - Cnet.com - 31 Oct 08

"Today, Toyota's Prius hybrid electric cars have nickel-metal hydride batteries. Because of improvements in weight and storage in lithium ion batteries, though, a number of auto manufacturers will be using them in plug-in hybrids expected to come to market in the next two years.

General Motors, for example, plans to use lithium ion batteries for the [Chevrolet] Volt and the Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid, both of which are expected in late 2010. Toyota, too, is planning cars with lithium ion batteries, but it is said to be researching zinc air batteries for vehicles as well.

Today, lithium is extracted from dried salt ponds or 'salt flats.' A briny liquid underneath the surface is pumped out and dried in the sun. The dried material contains lithium carbonate, which is later processed to make lithium. There are widely divergent views on whether the existing producers of lithium--most located in South America and China--can keep pace with an onrush of hundreds of thousands or millions of new plug-in hybrid cars in the next few years."

Comments

[calenorn.livejournal.com]

As the value of a material increases other sources may become economically viable. Lithium compounds can be found in many minerals. It may be that lithium could start to be extracted from current mining operations for other materials. I would also imagine that these batteries can be recycled.

[webfarmer.livejournal.com]

Yes, there are probably a variety of options such that we shouldn't fret about this too much for the longer run.