Lithium For Electric Cars From Where?

[fmdog44]

Afghanistan has the most lithium and America gets our in part from China. We are mining for it in Nevada but using enormous amounts of water. Cobalt for these batteries is abundant in the Congo where child labor is used. So this means when all the environmental folks are elated with electric cars we may be backing ourselves in to a corner.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I agree that if there's way to exploit others, a few are going to try to do it. I live in PA mining country, with cave ins, acid mine drainage, Black Lung, and a long list of problems due to mining. I agree that going "lectric" over oil is in it's infancy. Reset the clock back to the 1890s, and we see the same type of problems with the birth of petroleum fueled engines.

 

[WhatInThe]

But the cars are green silly. The raw materials, processes and manufacturing details don't matter. Many electronic components require various metals and those metals some heavy will also be a disposal issue. The plastics in a lot of electronics will last a long time. Look at the plastics they'
re finding see life from litter bugs tossing water bottles and misc into the oceans. Right now the continuous drive to make fossil fuel cars more efficient should continue and get priority. An electric option is doable. Mass deployment not so much.

 

[Murrmurr]

But the cars are green silly. The raw materials, processes and manufacturing details don't matter. Many electronic components require various metals and those metals some heavy will also be a disposal issue. The plastics in a lot of electronics will last a long time. Look at the plastics they'
re finding see life from litter bugs tossing water bottles and misc into the oceans. Right now the continuous drive to make fossil fuel cars more efficient should continue and get priority. An electric option is doable. Mass deployment not so much.

I agree. I'm not convinced that elect cars leave a smaller "carbon" footprint than gas-fuel cars. Plus they leave us dependent on foreign raw materials. I don't see any advantage.

 

[AnnieA]

These are problems I hope are solved with improved battery tech.

Currently, my guess is that hybrids are the most earth friendly.