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Search is on For Cobalt-Free Batteries As Metal Gets Increasingly Rare and Expensive (technologyreview.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Conamix, a little-known startup based in Ithaca, New York, has raised several million dollars to accelerate its development of cobalt-free materials for lithium-ion batteries, the latest sign that companies are eager to find alternatives to the increasingly rare and expensive metal. The problem: The price of cobalt has more than doubled in recent months, as global demand skyrockets for the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and smartphones. It's also being driven up by the fact that the metal is mined primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where labor and corruption issues are rife. Earlier this year, the nation decided to raise royalties on cobalt and other metals.
Given the ambitious expansion plans of lithium-ion producers, the world will face cobalt shortages by the early 2020s, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. This is keeping prices of lithium-ion batteries high and preventing major automakers from lining up long-term supply deals on favorable terms. The mounting threat to electric-vehicle growth has prompted a growing number of companies to explore other solutions.
Given the ambitious expansion plans of lithium-ion producers, the world will face cobalt shortages by the early 2020s, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. This is keeping prices of lithium-ion batteries high and preventing major automakers from lining up long-term supply deals on favorable terms. The mounting threat to electric-vehicle growth has prompted a growing number of companies to explore other solutions.
Yeah, that worked wonderfully in the middle east two decades ago right? Oh, right...we've been 'fighting terror' in the area ever since.
Now, if the USA turned imperialistic and claimed these places as territories maybe.
You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
Indeed, their cathodes tested in at only 3% cobalt by weight, which is mind-bogglingly little. They've stated that they're quickly en route to using no or nearly-no cobalt. Based on the test results so far, I believe it.
I was watching this thing on TV about some guy named Hitler. Someone should stop him!
Or maybe it’s time to stop being racist and actually bring proper jobs housing food and sanitation to African countries if you want their raw materials.
It's the corruption and dictatorship that keeps people poor. Japan has few resources but is economically free with rule of law to protect investments from robbers and corruption, so people can respond to needs.
In places like this, you need kickback permission to do anything, and if you manage that, have to give a cut to the kleptocrats. Or it's a failed state and you just close up shop because of armed looting robbery. The kleptocrats may keep your competitors out of business, which is the opposite of a free market.
It's difficult and dangerous and low reward to start an enterprise there.
It has nothing to do with quality of government marshalling of a desirable resource. No resources needed to lift a society out of dirt-floor poverty.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.