msantos
03-13-2009, 11:33 PM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg Lithium is seen as one of the obstacles to cleaner mobility (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/259335,will-lithium-prevent-clean-revolution.html)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/lithiumReserves.jpgThe Earth Times (http://www.earthtimes.org) - Mar. 12, 2009
The lithium alarm button as been pushed many times in recent years and it appears it will continue that way for the foreseeable future! -- Ed.
Hamburg - Will millions of electric eco-cars one day solve our climate and energy problems? If batteries are charged with renewable wind and solar energy, electric cars are currently the cleanest on the road. But most batteries are made of lithium, a finite and expensive natural resource, which prompts sceptics to question the ambitious plans of many car makers. Some analysts are already sounding warnings that the latest lithium-ion battery technology will at best occupy a small niche market. Lithium is a limited natural resource with most deposits in Bolivia, Chile and some in Australia and Tibet.
A strategy expert at the Paris ESCP-EAP campus, Professor Frederic Frery, points out that even if the current total lithium production of 25,000 tonnes annually is used for electric car batteries, this would only suffice for 1 million of the 50 million new cars sold annually.
"If all the lithium were used for electric cars the resource would only be enough to last for 10 years," he warns.
Lithium is a lightweight metal with a high energy density that has long been used for laptop and mobile phone batteries. Tesla and other manufacturers of electric cars are also using the metal for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries that take up less space, weigh less and extend the range of electric vehicles.
Bolivia, one of the poorest Latin American countries, has the world's largest deposits of lithium carbonate in the Uyuni salt lake region. Bolivian President Evo Morales wants state-control of what is considered potentially "white gold". The price of lithium has more than doubled in the past five years as demand increases.
Nevertheless, several car makers and governments have ambitious electric car plans. BMW is currently leasing a fleet of 500 electric MINIs with a lithium-ion battery pack positioned in the space normally occupied by the rear seat. The cars have a range of 240 kilometres.… http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/259335,will-lithium-prevent-clean-revolution.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/lithiumReserves.jpgThe Earth Times (http://www.earthtimes.org) - Mar. 12, 2009
The lithium alarm button as been pushed many times in recent years and it appears it will continue that way for the foreseeable future! -- Ed.
Hamburg - Will millions of electric eco-cars one day solve our climate and energy problems? If batteries are charged with renewable wind and solar energy, electric cars are currently the cleanest on the road. But most batteries are made of lithium, a finite and expensive natural resource, which prompts sceptics to question the ambitious plans of many car makers. Some analysts are already sounding warnings that the latest lithium-ion battery technology will at best occupy a small niche market. Lithium is a limited natural resource with most deposits in Bolivia, Chile and some in Australia and Tibet.
A strategy expert at the Paris ESCP-EAP campus, Professor Frederic Frery, points out that even if the current total lithium production of 25,000 tonnes annually is used for electric car batteries, this would only suffice for 1 million of the 50 million new cars sold annually.
"If all the lithium were used for electric cars the resource would only be enough to last for 10 years," he warns.
Lithium is a lightweight metal with a high energy density that has long been used for laptop and mobile phone batteries. Tesla and other manufacturers of electric cars are also using the metal for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries that take up less space, weigh less and extend the range of electric vehicles.
Bolivia, one of the poorest Latin American countries, has the world's largest deposits of lithium carbonate in the Uyuni salt lake region. Bolivian President Evo Morales wants state-control of what is considered potentially "white gold". The price of lithium has more than doubled in the past five years as demand increases.
Nevertheless, several car makers and governments have ambitious electric car plans. BMW is currently leasing a fleet of 500 electric MINIs with a lithium-ion battery pack positioned in the space normally occupied by the rear seat. The cars have a range of 240 kilometres.… http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/259335,will-lithium-prevent-clean-revolution.html