11-19-2010, 03:07 AM
The fact that China controls the market does not make them rare, it means that other countries have not mobilized to exploit their own resources because China undercut the market. We have lots in the US as well as other parts of asia and california, canada, south africa, etc, it will just take time to redevelop the mines and facilities to use them as there are high barriers to entry.. Its a short term problem, not something that will limit the long term viability of electric cars.
Lithium is not a rare earth metal, incidentally.
Lithium is not a rare earth metal, incidentally.