Biden Administration Pushes For More Lithium Mining Operations In US

The transition from gasoline to electric vehicles mainly depends on the supply chain for batteries and their materials.

Domestic shortages of lithium and other critical minerals have plagued U.S. auto manufacturers trying to keep up with EV demand, which is growing at a steep 30 percent annually, according to EVAdoption.com.

The largest shortfall is domestic lithium production. Australia accounts for half of the 100,000 tons of lithium produced globally, according to the World Economic Forum. Chile and China are next. The U.S. lags far behind, producing fewer than 1,000 tons of lithium annually.