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    Why The EV Industry Is Betting On This Lithium Mining Breakthrough



    A suite of new, but largely unproven, technologies known as direct lithium extraction could revolutionize lithium mining from brine, making it more efficient and sustainable and eliminating the need for large evaporation ponds. A number of companies including EnergyX, Lilac Solutions, and Standard Lithium are entering the DLE market and getting ready for commercial implementation across South America and the U.S., while automakers like BMW, GM and Ford are investing.

    Chapters:
    00:00 — Introduction
    01:55 — The need for DLE
    04:17 — Different approaches
    10:50 — Road to commercialization

    CORRECTION (June 5, 2023): At 12:16 in the video we state that Bolivia was previously considering using DLE technology from both EnergyX and Lilac Solutions. In fact, the Bolivian government is still considering a future partnership with Lilac Solutions.

    Produced, Shot and Edited by: Katie Brigham
    Animation: Christina Locopo, Jason Reginato
    Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
    Additional Footage: Albemarle, EnergyX, Lilac Solutions, Standard Lithium, Sunresin, Livent, Getty Images

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    Why The EV Industry Is Betting On This Lithium Mining Breakthrough

    View 49 Comments

    49 Comments

    1. Alex Mac on

      I think that the Porsch synthetic fuel been made in Chile is a better solution than electric batteries. Extract carbon from the air and makes methanol and is further refined into a synthetic fuel which can be used in existing vehicles. Then we don’t obsolete all the cars in the world.

    4. Building Dreams on

      ​🤑Say"EH WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS WITH A CROWN OF THORNS! OH WAS TO THE LEFT AND UH RIGHT. OH YOH FROM ANOTHER PLANET IS TRYING TO TAKE OVER EARTH WITH CIRCUMCISION AND EARRINGS! GOD WAS CIRCUMCISED"

    11. Altruism First on

      2% of mined Li is used, thats 1 tonne of EV battery need 500,000 tonnes of mined material – this is not the solution for 8 billion people be ware of the LIes.

    12. pussnbootlp on

      LOL. Even we extract all lithium on earth, there is still not enough lithium to make enough battery to replace all ICE car to EV. And that is just car alone, not even counting landbase energy storage. Is a sunset industry so please keep pumping money into it. The money should spend on the next battery technology after Lithium.

    13. Peter Sedesse on

      People need to understand this about China. The USA has a ton of lithium, but it is better if we allow China to destroy their ecosystem and water supply to mine it. We are not really dependent on China, we just need a country that doesn't mind polluting their own people.

    19. Saephyr Debviake on

      While DLE technology has the potential to be more environmentally friendly and efficient than traditional methods of lithium extraction, there are some potential drawbacks to consider.

      One drawback is that the selective membrane used in DLE technology can be expensive and may need to be replaced frequently. Additionally, the brine used in DLE technology can contain impurities that can clog or damage the membrane, reducing its effectiveness.

      Another potential drawback is that DLE technology is not currently as well-established or widely used as traditional methods of lithium extraction. This means that more research and development may be needed to optimize the technology and increase its scalability and cost-effectiveness.

      Finally, the disposal of extracted brine and other waste materials can also be a potential drawback of DLE technology. If not properly handled, this waste could potentially have negative environmental impacts.

      Overall, while DLE technology has the potential to be a more sustainable and efficient method of lithium extraction, it's important to consider and address any potential drawbacks in order to ensure that its implementation is as environmentally responsible as possible. Thankyou !

    22. Alexander Louie on

      Fossil fuels are the future unless you plan on reducing the world population by half and stopping developing countries from meeting their development needs. We simply won't have enough lithium to power factories, cars, and everything else in between. Additionally, EV manufacturing requires mining of cobalt, which causes environmental damage.

    25. Lee Fall on

      When dead batteries end up in landfill…We definitely cant produce enough lithium for everyone to have a EV.. Never mind the ecological disaster that this would cause.

    31. B@n Gerotocracy on

      I don't like reporting that has no analysis aspect. Any "alternative" market has to be tested for any new dangers it may pose to the environment. Conventional lithium mining is easily just as bad for our environment when scaled up to the level of fossil fuel and even relies on fossil fuels in order to operate. Its a lie in and of itself to disguise itself as a safe alternative while lithium mining uses 500,000 gallons of water per ton and all that water is polluted in the process. We cannot just accept whatever narrative an alternative industry feeds us in our desperation to escape from fossil fuels. Don't poison our water in the effort to clean up the air. It is more likely we will end up polluting both with that kind of ignorance. You cannot blindly trust figures that originate from the industry itself or any source that is dependent upon that industry for funds. Be skeptical.

    43. RazeWithOdin on

      dang this is only happening because of big business. Wish we could just use the lithium for electric public transportation instead of mass produced automobiles that are material demand heavy

    48. Maria Okopenko on

      *The stock market rally run is gone, but I'm not sure if equities will swiftly recover, keep falling or swing in a narrow range for a few weeks, or if things will quickly get worse. I'm under pressure to increase my $250k reserve*.

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