Lithium is a rare and scarce metal found only in significant quantities in two remote, unspoiled and fragile parts of the Earth: the Andes and Tibet. The Salar de Uyuni is quite justifiably recognised as a Natural Wonder of the World. To extract enough Lithium to meet even 10% of global automotive demand would cause irreversible and widespread damage to these environments, that have taken millennia to form. On the other hand, the alternative and superior battery technologies of ZnAir and Zebra (NaNiFeCl) depend on common metals and materials that are already the mainstay of industrial civilisation and found ubiquitously.The concept of the “Green Car” is incompatible with the fact that if LiIon batteries are used to propel it, it will be produced at the expense of two of the most fragile and beautiful ecosystems that are left on this planet. The degradation of the salars and effects on their wildlife will be hard to defend and justify, when it was completely avoidable by using metals that are already well established in our industrial infrastructure.
It would be irresponsible to despoil these regions for a material which can only ever be produced in sufficient quantities to serve a niche market of luxury vehicles for the top end of the market. We live in an age of Environmental Responsibility where the folly of the last two hundred years of despoilment of the Earth’s resources are clear to see. We cannot have “Green Cars” that have been produced at the expense of some of the world’s last unspoiled and irreplaceable wilderness.
It really does give pause to the whole scenario, doesn’t it? I’ve shared this document with many since I found it 4 years ago.
The response from those F.I.N.E. with the status-quo: Typically hysterical attacks. Others, with silence.
Nobody has yet to debunk the report. Makes one wonder why Japan is moving to Hydrogen, why A123 really went banko and if the rest of this isn’t just a continuation of crony capitalism for the benefit of a select few. All the hundreds of millions in tax dollars wasted collectively on EV/battery tech when we could have been 20-30 years closer to something better. Shameful, really...
What was the latest accidental discovery? It’s late here...can’t recall more than they discovered a coating fired with a DVD laser caused it to have electrical storage capacity.