In pictures: #SouthAmerica's 'LithiumFields' reveal the dark side of our electric future

By Maeve Campbell
Published on 01/02/2022

"Lithium extraction fields in South America have been captured by an aerial photographer in stunning high definition.

"But while the images may be breathtaking to look at, they represent the dark side of our swiftly electrifying world.

"Lithium represents a route out of our reliance on #FossilFuel production. As the lightest known metal on the planet, it is now widely used in electric devices from mobile phones and laptops, to cars and aircraft.

"#LithiumIon batteries are most famous for powering electric vehicles, which are set to account for up to 60 per cent of new car sales by 2030. The battery of a #Tesla Model S, for example, uses around 12 kg of lithium.

"These batteries are the key to lightweight, rechargeable power. As it stands, demand for lithium is unprecedented and many say it is crucial in order to transition to #renewables.

"However, this doesn't come without a cost - mining the chemical element can be harmful to the environment.

"German aerial photographer Tom Hegen specialises in documenting the traces we leave on the earth's surface. His work provides an overview of places where we extract, refine and consume resources with his latest series exposing the '#LithiumTriangle.'

"This region rich with natural deposits can be found where the borders of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet. And roughly a quarter is stored in the Salar de Atacama salt flats in northern Chile."

https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/02/01/south-america-s-lithium-fields-reveal-the-dark-side-of-our-electric-future

#EVs#LithiumAlternatives#RecycleLithium#NoLithiumMining#NoMiningWithoutConsent#LithiumProcessing#WaterIsLife#NatureIsLife#HydrogenFuelCells#SodiumIonBatteries

Ford says it's cracked the code on cheap EVs, thanks to more streamlined manufacturing processes and lithium iron phosphate batteries that the company says are more durable, faster charging and more affordable than what it currently uses. There will be more use of automation and robots, but the company declined to specify how this compares to current manufacturing. Ford announced a "family" of low-cost vehicles that will be made in Kentucky, starting with a four-door mid-sized pickup that will arrive in 2027 and will cost $30,000. Here's more from @theverge.

https://flip.it/ayD2Vl

#ElectricVehicles#EVs#Ford#Automotive#Robots#Automation

Ford says it's cracked the code on cheap EVs, thanks to more streamlined manufacturing processes and lithium iron phosphate batteries that the company says are more durable, faster charging and more affordable than what it currently uses. There will be more use of automation and robots, but the company declined to specify how this compares to current manufacturing. Ford announced a "family" of low-cost vehicles that will be made in Kentucky, starting with a four-door mid-sized pickup that will arrive in 2027 and will cost $30,000. Here's more from @theverge.

https://flip.it/ayD2Vl

#ElectricVehicles#EVs#Ford#Automotive#Robots#Automation

China is not merely moving more goods; it is exporting a new, ruthlessly efficient production model powered by automation, AI and state-guided industrial optimization. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/04/world/chinas-unbeatable-new-export/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #chineseeconomy #automation #ai #production #trade #deepseek #evs

One thing I liked about #Greenpeace was that they always made an effort to include social factors in their reports or research, and not have it just be about #climate or #environment.

Yet, in this report, no mention of any #humanrights, or #labor issues in #EVs. Purely a climate ranking.

It is because it includes #China?

https://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/press/68215/leading-battery-makers-fall-short-on-climate-commitments/

🐲 There’s a Race to Power the Future. China Is Pulling Away • NYT

「 In China, more wind turbines and solar panels were installed last year than in the rest of the world combined. And China’s clean energy boom is going global. Chinese companies are building electric vehicle and battery factories in Brazil, Thailand, Morocco, Hungary and beyond 」

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/30/climate/china-clean-energy-power.html

#climate #energycrisis #evs #china

China's BYD has achieved 5-minute charging for #EVs. In that time, BYD's new model boosted its battery from 13 to 60 percent. That's three times as fast as the top EV chargers in the United States. https://spectrum.ieee.org/byd-megawatt-charging?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fedica-Mastodon-Daily-Pipeline

Tesla new car sales in Europe fell for a fifth straight month in May. The latest data says the carmaker's sales are down 27.9% year on year in the EU, Britain and European Free Trade Association. The company's stock is down more than 18% so far this year. Here's more from CNBC.

https://flip.it/yD_FtZ

#Tech#Technology#ElectricVehicles#EVs#Tesla

Tesla new car sales in Europe fell for a fifth straight month in May. The latest data says the carmaker's sales are down 27.9% year on year in the EU, Britain and European Free Trade Association. The company's stock is down more than 18% so far this year. Here's more from CNBC.

https://flip.it/yD_FtZ

#Tech#Technology#ElectricVehicles#EVs#Tesla

“Tony #Blair has decided to mimic Nigel #Farage on #NetZero and sounds like he is speaking on behalf of petro-states like Saudi Arabia & Kazakhstan for whom he has lobbied for more years than he was PM.

It is vital that the government distance itself from this latest dodgy dossier from Blair and turn its attention instead to what the Climate Change Committee is saying today. Their report could not be clearer: we are woefully unprepared for the impacts of climate breakdown”

Carla #Denyer

“This new report [from Tony #Blair Institute] is muddled and misleading.

There is far more progress being made around the world to #decarbonise the global economy than it suggests.

For instance, China is the world’s leading producer and domestic deployer of #renewables and #EVs. Its power generating capacity from renewables has now exceeded that of fossil fuels and its emissions are likely to peak in the next two years.”

Nicholas Stern (Blair’s #climate advisor when in office)