[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Dr. Simon Goddek [@goddeketal](/creator/twitter/goddeketal) on x 1.1M followers Created: 2025-07-18 22:58:24 UTC Climate activists such as @GretaThunberg often gain attention for advocating for electric cars, claiming they are a sustainable and environmentally-friendly means of transportation. That's not true. Let's take a look at the facts: ▪️Lithium Mining: The amount of lithium in an electric vehicle battery varies, but an average electric vehicle needs around XX kilograms of lithium. With over X billion cars on the road globally, this would mean at least XX million metric tons of lithium would be required. Global lithium production was about XXXXXXX metric tons in 2022. Therefore, without any increases in lithium production, it would take over a XX years to mine enough lithium. ▪️Limited Recycling of Lithium Batteries: Lithium-ion batteries unfortunately are not fully recyclable in a commercially economical or energy-efficient way. Since lithium makes up a small portion of the battery, the economic incentive to recycle it is low. Also, a significant amount of lithium is lost when batteries reach the end of their life. ▪️Cobalt Usage: Cobalt is a key component in many types of lithium-ion batteries, used to increase energy density and lifespan. Unfortunately, about half of the world's cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there have been many documented cases of child labor and poor working conditions in cobalt mines. Ironically, while Greta has claimed that politicians "have stolen my dreams and my childhood," the children laboring in these mines have never had the chance to have a childhood or dreams to begin with. ▪️Break-Even Distance: On average, an electric car needs to be driven at least XXXXXX kilometers to reach the break-even point with respect to the CO2 footprint compared to a gasoline car. This varies depending on the size of the vehicle, the source of electricity used for charging, and the manufacturing process. ▪️Environmental Impact of Lithium and Cobalt Mining: The extraction processes for lithium and cobalt can have severe environmental consequences. For instance, lithium mining often involves pumping large amounts of water from underground reservoirs to the surface, which can deplete local water supplies and negatively affect ecosystems. Meanwhile, cobalt mining, especially in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo, can lead to significant soil and water pollution, harming local wildlife and pose health risks to nearby communities. The bare facts do not look good, and they don't even take into account that batteries degrade over time and need to be replaced. Also, the calculations above assume that people don't buy new cars. Electric cars based on lithium batteries are consequently not sustainable. The main reason that there is a worldwide shift to electric cars is the claim that CO2 is the main driver of 'global warming'. I will continue to drive my 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. It runs on gasoline and, apart from an old radio, it has no electronics. Also, the government won't be able to remotely shut it off in case my social credit score plunges into negative territory.  XXXXXX engagements  **Related Topics** [mining](/topic/mining) [electric vehicle](/topic/electric-vehicle) [Post Link](https://x.com/goddeketal/status/1946343828916752621)
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Dr. Simon Goddek @goddeketal on x 1.1M followers
Created: 2025-07-18 22:58:24 UTC
Climate activists such as @GretaThunberg often gain attention for advocating for electric cars, claiming they are a sustainable and environmentally-friendly means of transportation. That's not true. Let's take a look at the facts:
▪️Lithium Mining: The amount of lithium in an electric vehicle battery varies, but an average electric vehicle needs around XX kilograms of lithium. With over X billion cars on the road globally, this would mean at least XX million metric tons of lithium would be required. Global lithium production was about XXXXXXX metric tons in 2022. Therefore, without any increases in lithium production, it would take over a XX years to mine enough lithium.
▪️Limited Recycling of Lithium Batteries: Lithium-ion batteries unfortunately are not fully recyclable in a commercially economical or energy-efficient way. Since lithium makes up a small portion of the battery, the economic incentive to recycle it is low. Also, a significant amount of lithium is lost when batteries reach the end of their life.
▪️Cobalt Usage: Cobalt is a key component in many types of lithium-ion batteries, used to increase energy density and lifespan. Unfortunately, about half of the world's cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there have been many documented cases of child labor and poor working conditions in cobalt mines. Ironically, while Greta has claimed that politicians "have stolen my dreams and my childhood," the children laboring in these mines have never had the chance to have a childhood or dreams to begin with.
▪️Break-Even Distance: On average, an electric car needs to be driven at least XXXXXX kilometers to reach the break-even point with respect to the CO2 footprint compared to a gasoline car. This varies depending on the size of the vehicle, the source of electricity used for charging, and the manufacturing process.
▪️Environmental Impact of Lithium and Cobalt Mining: The extraction processes for lithium and cobalt can have severe environmental consequences. For instance, lithium mining often involves pumping large amounts of water from underground reservoirs to the surface, which can deplete local water supplies and negatively affect ecosystems. Meanwhile, cobalt mining, especially in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo, can lead to significant soil and water pollution, harming local wildlife and pose health risks to nearby communities.
The bare facts do not look good, and they don't even take into account that batteries degrade over time and need to be replaced. Also, the calculations above assume that people don't buy new cars. Electric cars based on lithium batteries are consequently not sustainable. The main reason that there is a worldwide shift to electric cars is the claim that CO2 is the main driver of 'global warming'.
I will continue to drive my 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. It runs on gasoline and, apart from an old radio, it has no electronics. Also, the government won't be able to remotely shut it off in case my social credit score plunges into negative territory.
XXXXXX engagements
Related Topics mining electric vehicle