r/Futurology • u/ToffeeFever • Sep 10 '23

Energy Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found

https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/lithium-discovery-in-us-volcano-could-be-biggest-deposit-ever-found/4018032.article
4.2k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

368 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3

u/hsnoil Sep 11 '23

Depends what chemistry? Like LFP uses 0 cobalt

1

u/Ecclypto Sep 11 '23

I can’t argue here really however as I understand it cobalt based batteries have substantially higher energy densities. I always assumed that was the primary reason why mines in Congo were kept operational even though the whole place is a hellhole

2

u/NinjaKoala Sep 12 '23

Cobalt has seen lots of use even before EVs, with uses in specialty steel and petroleum refining.

From what I can see, the new Project Highland Tesla Model 3s use LFP batteries, and the standard range models of the 3 and the Y -- by far the best-selling EVs in the U.S. -- use LFP batteries.

The up-and-coming market for batteries, however, is static applications. Weight and density are less important compared to cost, fire safety, etc. And there LFP wins out over cobalt formulations. It may be that sodium or iron-based batteries will take over eventually, but (for example) Tesla Megapacks now looked to be LFP-based.

Still, a better source for cobalt would be good.

1

u/hsnoil Sep 11 '23

Yes, but LFP is good enough for 250+ miles range already