Tesla Inc (TSLA)

[jbsliverer]

In reality it is about 30 most abundant depending on where your researching. But that's not the issue. Sure, you might be able to go in your back yard and find some lithium in some rocks, but the concentration is not enough for anything. Which makes processed battery grade Lithium product comparatively more rare and demand for it can get more than the supply. Mining, processing into battery material is a pretty intensive and time consuming process. As of now, about 3/4 of concentrated lithium mining is only in three countries, Australia, Chile (with the Lithium triangle), and China. But here's the real problem in my view is that China has control of over half of all that and they have 3/4 of all the big battery factories in the world. As I understand, the big auto makers including Tesla are trying to curb that and find or create different sources, but they are really late to the party and we are going to be dealing with the problems(expense) of that tardiness. Not just Tesla's problem though, but all EV manufacturing. Tesla might be ahead of the others in addressing this issue, but it's still a problem. Pricing in Lithium is going up, supply and demand issues are being an effect. Along with all of the geopolitical problems, how it's all going to play out is yet to be seen, but it is going to get more expensive.