eventually they will build the batteries to be recycled. Look at the lead-acid battery loop.
Our society demands it. Sure, it isn't a problem now, just an ominous warning.
It will be heeded. You can bet there is someone trying to figure out how to become a billionaire from it.
Recycling is usually less expensive than mining - although lithium (like sodium) can be evaporated out of a water as a salt.
- i did a HBR case on some guys making sea salt, it was hysterical, they had pools that they opened for sea water to flood,
then they'd close the gate, let it evaporate, and pick the salt out with a skid steer. at $0.10/lb they were making millions a year.
actual lithium would explode when exposed to air - so there is that (so does sodium)
Might be interesting to see if there are 40mile range cars for commuting/errands - kept very light, and mission specific.
very cheap, quick to recharge. I always thought something enclosed, a little larger than a can-am, might work.
or something transformable. ie a motorcycle that docked into something larger with a long range battery
and more seats. again, mission specific.
Maybe the whole car ownership model will change? Zip cars are popular.
When they are self-driving, and the user can summon one on demand, or schedule one (meaning cheaper) which is
mission specific (take me to the mall, i have skis, or a bike, or moving a couch) - that is a game changer.
probably a subscription model ?
What about something where you drive the first and last "mile" and the vehicle gets on a track/sled/train to be moved in a more efficient
(meaning average of all) way? something like getting on a gondola?
Sure I like driving, but getting to citi field sucks. I'd rather sit in the back and watch the 3rd season of dark or vanilla sky
to try to figure out what just happened.
best part is that it is so new, that nothing is written in stone. Future is bright! like LED bright.