There are a lot of different possible chemical couples to make new batteries. The process to mature a battery and get it to scale is very, very long. It's almost more about scale right now than it is about a slightly better new-fangled battery. If I had a choice of an electric vehicle that cost half as much or one that went twice as far, this would be a no-brainer.
Batteries are a critical part of the transition away from fossil fuels. From electric vehicles to grid scale storage for wind and solar, demand for batteries is expected to grow 500% by 2030. In order to meet that demand, we’re going to need a lot more batteries. And while companies like JB Straubel’s Redwood Materials are building capacity for recycling, for now that means a lot more mining. How do we build a battery supply chain that meets demand and reduces harm?
This episode is underwritten by ClimateWorks.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices