Will Bolivia Be Ruined, Improved, or Hated Because of Electric Cars?
There is a debate about how much lithium is available on earth, and how long it will last. After reading this article from The Daily Green, I’m skeptical. An optimistic CEO from a company that sells electric car batteries offers the following thoughts:
I’ve seen some negative reports saying the world is in danger of running out, but I don’t think that’s a productive notion. The amount of lithium in a lithium-ion battery is very low when compared to other substances — it’s three to four percent of our costs for materials. When I look at all the things to worry about for battery cars, lithium supply does not make the list. There’s not likely to be a problem until 2020 at the earliest.
2020 at the earliest? That sounds soon to me, especially given the interest of countries like France, Spain, and Australia in electric cars, and not to mention the U.S., especially now that a very powerful person by the name of Barack Obama has voiced great belief in an electric car future and wants to provide billions to research battery technology as part of the much discussed economic stimulus package.
Even if lithium is available more readily than some people think, is it also possible that while the developed world would lose much of its dependence on oil, it would simply become dependent on lithium instead? Would some people hate Bolivia, and even start to complain that we need to “end our dependence on lithium from Bolivia?”
Even though the price of lithium might only be 3-4% of a battery’s cost, it is called a lithium battery right? It’s a pretty important battery component, correct?
So call me a pessimist in regard to lithium’s longevity– which brings us to a final topic.
Improved.
Look no further than the cash reserve increases Bolivia has since Morales took over.
Bolivia has put their foot down and drawn the line. They are more than willing to do deals, however, they are no longer willing to be taken lightly. Previous Bolivian governments has raided the country coffers.
As far as the govt being unstable. Well, be definition this can be disputed. But, what can not be disputed is that small developing nations with rich natural resources are waking up and starting to capitalize.
Don’t wait too much Bolivia. One thing is that it took 100 years to change from Petroleum to Electricity. But you can be sure that in less than 5 years, alternatives to Lithium will be available for batteries and ultracapacitators. You only have to see the index of evolution of the Rechargable Batteries in the last 10 years (when only the “walkman” needed recharegable batteries) ;-D
Now “all” uses batteries: laptops, MP3, DECT Phones, Mobile Phones, Teethbrushers!!!! and now CARS!
As high the price of Lithium maintains, as soon new batteries with new materials will be developed for cheap.
So Bolivia, get the money for the people, but start to mine Lithium now before its price drop.
Levy should read the Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, who spent a lot of time researching the events and players that gave rise to what is happening in South America today. He’ll get a better understanding of the past 40 year history of the region and hopefully see things more clearly. So many people go on about “Morales thinks this”, “Chavez believes that”, all getting their news from the NY Times and other sausage factories. Try a book once in a while.
Dear quasimojo,
Thanks for the suggestion to read Shock Doctrine. I’ve googled it and will definitely try to read it as I think its thesis is interesting in regard to the reasons why free-market forces and policies have been adopted in so many countries.
As someone who lives in Peru, I actually get a lot of my news from South American sources, and I also happen to think that the NY Times is a pretty good periodical. But I recognize that there are many sides to a story and that my knowledge can also grow, and that my opinions can always change.
Since your skill as a reader seems quite adept, might I politely suggest that you check how you spelled my name and check where some of the links in the article will lead you.
Thanks for your comment.
Levi
[...] Fuente: EcoWordly [...]
EV resource naysayers need to tone it down. There’s enough: lithium, electricity, plug-ins, etc.. The problem is getting auto/oil interests out of the way so EVs can be made on a commercial, economical scale.
If EV resources are actually a problem with an EV mass market years from now - the market will adjust with different, better, newer technologies at that time.
Hmm, I think you might just be onto something here. Well done.
RT
http://www.anonymity-tools.us.tc
I have studied environmental issues for a couple years and i always get the same feeling; either people don’t understand the science of global warming or there care for other environmental factors blind them. Ok so a few people in Bolivia will suffer heath problems but what about future generations of children that wont have an earth that functions poorly.
Morales is just doing what countless dictators have done before him. He is raping the country blind. While he fiddles, those who have actually provided jobs are bailing out of the country, with the actual capital to make Bolivia a strong country.