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“We need to establish mass-manufacturing incentives … so we can credibly compete.” (http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/BUSINESS01/80812038/1014)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Johnson_Controls_Li-Ion_HEV_Pack.jpgJewel Gopwani - Detroit Free Press - Aug 12, 2008

Johnson Controls -- FEH Li-Ion pack installed and ready to go.

JCI and A123Systems are the only two credible Li-Ion battery manufacturers in the US and even their raw materials are from overseas. -- Ed.

TRAVERSE CITY -- As the world’s automakers race to build electric vehicles, North America isn’t ready when it comes to mining the material for batteries and manufacturing batteries, said Mary Ann Wright, CEO of Johnson Controls-Saft, the advanced battery joint venture at the Milwaukee-based supplier.

North America does not have a robust supply base for the market, she said. More than half of the lithium needed for the batteries comes from South America, Wright said, Wright said during the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City. In a decade, about 40% of the lithium will come from China.

“The key is long-term strategic investment,” she said.

One example of that kind of investment may have come today.

Johnson Controls-Saft announced that it won a two-year contract from an advanced battery consortium, comprised of several battery suppliers and automakers, including the Detroit automakers, to develop lithium-ion battery systems for plug-in hybrid vehicles… http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/BUSINESS01/80812038/1014

North America does not have a robust supply base for the market, she said. More than half of the lithium needed for the batteries comes from South America, Wright said, Wright said during the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City. In a decade, about 40% of the lithium will come from China.

Sounds like this could be a new crisis du jour in 10-20 years. "We are importing more than 50% of our lithium at outrageously high prices from hostile foreign sources. It is killing our trade balance & seriously impacting our national security."

That would be kinda funny, wouldn't it? The difference is that if America can make better batteries than anyone else, it will be in everyone's best interest to make sure we still get raw material.

Personally, I'm still hoping that Eestor really does have a product that will trump all batteries. From what I've read, it uses special refining processes for construction, but the raw materials are available in great abundance everywhere. Better tech, no chemistry to wear out, and plenty of locally available resources? Sounds like a winning combination to me!