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Energy for Electric Vehicles Dealt a Blow by Bolivian Lithium Production
OilPrice.com ^ | 02/22/2010 | David Summers

Posted on 02/22/2010 1:46:46 PM PST by Bookworm22

Just over a year ago, and spurred by an article in Time, I wrote a post on the possible global supply of lithium, which is used in renewable batteries, and a major choice for use in the batteries of electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt. Since the story has acquired more recent interest this week, and with new information, it is worth re-visiting the topic.

I began the original post by noting that our first introduction to these batteries was in our role as an Explosives Lab when we found out - in a series of experiments a long time ago - that they can blow up if handled wrongly. And it turns out that such a risk is still around, though not that common. But to put the event in context:

Fifteen incidents in the last two decades were serious enough to warrant a decision to re-route a plane or perform an emergency landing, according to FAA data. For instance, in 2008, there were nine battery accidents resulting in two minor injuries. To put that figure in perspective, that year 3.3 billion lithium batteries were transported on 77 million flights, including 56 million passenger and combination passenger/cargo flights.

Based on that data, one's chances of being on the same flight with someone who suffers a minor injury because of a malfunctioning battery was about 1 in 28 million in 2008. In comparison, the one-year odds of dying from a car accident in the U.S. are 1 in 6,584, according to the National Safety Council.

Since we also look at processing, I became curious about where and how the lithium is mined. Recently, however, h/t to JoulesBurn, there was an article by Jack Lifton explaining some additional production issues. So what I thought I’d do is to integrate some of this additional information into a more up-to-date post.

It turns out that most lithium comes from salt lake deposits such as those in Chile and Bolivia.

The biggest deposit in the world lies in the Salar de Uyini, Bolivia, which is also the world’s largest salt flat. A quick look through Google Earth gives the location, with the white in the picture being the salt flat, and not snow. La Paz, the capital of Bolivia is at the top. Full article at: Electric Vehicles


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: battery; bolivia; electriccars; elecuticcars; energy; lithium
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1 posted on 02/22/2010 1:46:47 PM PST by Bookworm22
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To: Bookworm22

IF there is a future for electric vehicles, that future lies with super capacitors and not batteries.


2 posted on 02/22/2010 1:48:11 PM PST by wendy1946
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To: wendy1946

I wonder if the slow discharge capacitor is possible, especially for long periods of time


3 posted on 02/22/2010 1:51:44 PM PST by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: wendy1946

>> IF there is a future for electric vehicles, that future lies with super capacitors and not batteries.

That’s a pretty serious charge. I see you’re up on your current events.


4 posted on 02/22/2010 1:55:27 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Eat more spinach! Make Green Jobs for America!)
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To: Bookworm22

btt


5 posted on 02/22/2010 1:56:14 PM PST by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: Bookworm22

What about the Bonneville Salt Flats then?


6 posted on 02/22/2010 1:59:04 PM PST by NonValueAdded ("Roll back Pelosi" Rush Limbaugh, 2/12/10)
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To: Bookworm22

VERY related:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2436666/posts
Death of the Electric Car: Li-ion Batteries Too Valuable for Plug-In Vehicles


7 posted on 02/22/2010 1:59:19 PM PST by RobRoy (The US today: Revelation 18:4)
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To: Bookworm22

We need an Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator.


8 posted on 02/22/2010 1:59:59 PM PST by jessduntno (Bawney Fwank...with friends like him, who needs enemas?)
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To: Bookworm22
If little short trip clean city cars were needed, why not natural gas burners?

It works great for fork lifts in enclosed warehouses, some people even like the smell.

9 posted on 02/22/2010 2:01:01 PM PST by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: Bookworm22; All

Saw their exhibit at the Washington DC Auto Show. They may have the answer.

http://www.scuderigroup.com/


10 posted on 02/22/2010 2:05:22 PM PST by GunsareOK
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To: jessduntno

11 posted on 02/22/2010 2:06:31 PM PST by BubbaBasher ("Liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals" - Sam Adams)
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To: Nervous Tick
That’s a pretty serious charge. I see you’re up on your current events.

That you would resort to such puns is shocking.
12 posted on 02/22/2010 2:08:42 PM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)
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To: NonValueAdded

What about the Bonneville Salt Flats then?


The salt surface contains potassium, magnesium lithium and sodium chloride (common table salt).

The Bonneville Salt Flats is administered by the Bureau of Land Management for public use and enjoyment. Due to its unique geology, history, and scenic beauty, the Bonneville Salt Flats was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern in 1985

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm


Now put on your thinking cap to determine the answer..........


13 posted on 02/22/2010 2:10:30 PM PST by PeterPrinciple ( Seeking the truth here folks.)
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To: Bookworm22

If they are looking to use the same lithium battery that my camera uses, they may want to improve its cold temperature operation.


14 posted on 02/22/2010 2:18:59 PM PST by Western Phil
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To: RaceBannon

There was a thread on FR recently where everyone was blowing off as old news an article about capacitor paper. I wonder if *that* was the big deal about the capacitor paper?


15 posted on 02/22/2010 2:20:04 PM PST by dangus (Nah, I'm not really Jim Thompson, but I play him on FR.)
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To: GonzoGOP; Nervous Tick

Its more than that - it is positively electrifying!


16 posted on 02/22/2010 2:25:14 PM PST by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: BubbaBasher

???????


17 posted on 02/22/2010 2:27:54 PM PST by jessduntno (Bawney Fwank...with friends like him, who needs enemas?)
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To: abb
Its more than that - it is positively electrifying!

Puns tend to spark my interest, but they run into resistance among the more insulated members of the literary circuit.
18 posted on 02/22/2010 2:28:45 PM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)
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To: GonzoGOP
Puns tend to spark my interest, but they run into resistance among the more insulated members of the literary circuit.

They always react negatively. But there definitely is a current on this thread that has generated interest in the subject.

19 posted on 02/22/2010 2:37:00 PM PST by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: abb; GonzoGOP

reading your posts, I may blow a fuse..... :)


20 posted on 02/22/2010 2:38:27 PM PST by Magnum44 (Terrorism is a disease, precise application of superior firepower is the cure)
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