Understanding Energy Materials Supply Constraints in North America
Jim Greenberger2019-06-25T10:49:37-04:00There has been a lot of recent talk about shortages of energy materials (i.e., lithium, hi-grade nickel and cobalt) imperiling the future of lithium-ion battery manufacturing in North America. While much of that talk is sensationalized (we are not about to run out of lithium in the world), the United States’ failure to invest in stabilizing sources of energy material supply may put the United States at a long term disadvantage in the global competition for lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity and expertise. Properly understood, the energy materials supply chain challenge in North America consists of two problems: The market price [...]