U.S. boosts lithium imports for electric vehicle batteries
US government officials are scheduled to meet with automaker and lithium executives in early May to discuss developing and launching a national supply chain strategy for electric vehicles, three sources said.
While Volkswagen, Tesla and other electrical and battery manufacturers are expanding their production in the United States and investing billions in new technologies, they continue to depend on imported minerals, and the development of domestic mines and processing facilities is not accelerating significantly. p>
China today dominates the global EV supply chain, producing nearly two-thirds of its lithium-ion batteries (compared to only 5 percent in the U.S.), according to Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, which tracks prices of lithium and other commodities. most of the world's lithium processing plants.
“ We need to find ways to better develop our domestic supply of minerals, as these resources are vital to both our national security and our economy ,” said John Hooven, Senator of North Dakota.
According to informed sources, representatives from Tesla, General Motors, and Albemarle Corp and Livent Corp, which are mining lithium in South America, want to talk with federal officials about possible policy changes that could stimulate the development of the internal chain: mining, processing and supply of lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite for battery manufacturers.