Categories: General Market Commentary / Precious Metals
Topics: General Market Commentary / General Precious Metals

Rare metals expert predicts North American shortage of lithium for EVs

Rare metals expert predicts North American shortage of lithium for EVs 

Says problem could be alleviated through more lithium-ion battery recycling

The amount of lithium being produced in North America will not be enough to meet the growing demand for electrical vehicles, but the problem could be alleviated through recycling, a renowned authority on specialty metals said in a recent teaser video for his upcoming presentation at the Mines and Money show in Toronto.

Jack Lifton, senior editor for InvestorIntel Corp. and a consultant, author, and lecturer on technology metals such as cobalt, lithium and graphite, says he is perplexed as to why, when lithium-ion batteries have reached end of life, more are not recycled instead of landfilled. According to an article written by Palladium Energy, the U.S. EPA considers lithium-ion batteries “safe” for disposal in contrast to nickel-cadmium and lead-based battery products.

"We don't produce enough lithium, cobalt or spherical graphite in North America to make even a fraction of the vehicles Mr. Musk tells us he's going to be making by 2018"
The article notes the low economic gains to be made from lithium battery recycling, with the scrap value of lithium at least one-tenth of the value of lead.

Another article by Waste Management World acknowledges that electrical vehicle-makers would like to re-use lithium from recycled batteries, but contends that:

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