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> "Plus lithium is horrible to mine not only for the environment" Lithium extraction has a tiny fraction of the environmental footprint compared to the global
by Reason077 1y ago
> "Plus lithium is horrible to mine not only for the environment"
Lithium extraction has a tiny fraction of the environmental footprint compared to the global oil industry. It's a bit of a straw man argument to complain about the environmental credentials of batteries when the alternative is much worse.
- nomel 1y agoThe alternative to the alternative is much better, environmentally and (we'll have to wait and see final specs) technically by every single metric, other than momentum (both kinds).
- Reason077 1y agoWhat alternative are you referring to? You know that these solid state batteries still use lithium, right?
- nomel 1y agoMy understanding is that the there’s less, and potentially no, cobalt. Double checking, it looks like they haven’t made the composition public (and also haven’t finalized it). I guess we’ll have to wait and see for the environmental point (benefits of increased usage aside).
- Reason077 1y agoLess cobalt would certainly certainly be a win. But note that the majority of the world's EVs shipping today already have cobalt-free batteries in the form of LFP. But even if they're not cobalt-free and not cheaper, if Toyota have managed to combine NMC's energy density with LFP's safety profile and cycle life, that's a win already.
- nomel 1y agoOh wow, that was a quick change!