Tesla is the leading innovator in the field of electric vehicles today. With its batteries that are more powerful and efficient on the roads, Tesla is driving change in the automotive industry. But one of the key components that is essential to make electric vehicles successful are lithium-ion batteries.
The lithium used in the batteries is sourced from a variety of places around the world. In the early days, Tesla sourced their lithium from China but that has since changed. Now, the company gets its lithium from all over the globe. For instance, Tesla has secured lithium deals from Argentina, Canada, the United States, and other countries as well.
The production of lithium requires different methods, including mining, recycling, and chemical extraction. Mining is the most traditional form of lithium production, and it is responsible for about 70% of the world’s lithium supply. This method involves tunneling underground to create access points for extracting the metal.
Recycling is another method of lithium production and this is an area where Tesla is investing considerable efforts in. Recycling provides a plethora of advantages over mining, as recycled lithium can be found in pieces of discarded electronics. This helps reduce the need for additional mining and also lessens the amount of waste.
The United States, Australia, and Canada are some of the leading lithium producers at present. However, the global rise of electric vehicles is expected to drive demand for lithium in coming years. To meet this demand, more countries will likely become lithium suppliers.
Finally, the economic and political climates of different countries can also have an impact on the availability of lithium. This makes it difficult for companies like Tesla to secure enough resources of this needed metal. Fortunately, Tesla keeps on updating its strategies to ensure it is able to source lithium in times of crisis or difficulty.
Overall, Tesla is proving to be a pioneering force in the world of electric vehicles. With its sophisticated battery technology and responsible sourcing of lithium, Tesla is promising to innovate the industry in a way that is beneficial to all its stakeholders.
