podcast
It is found in mobile phones, in the batteries of electric cars, in laptops… in short, there is lithium in many objects that we depend on in everyday life. Despite local deposits, Germany is left behind by other countries, above all by China.
When Elon Musk presented Tesla’s quarterly figures at the end of April, he made particular reference to a raw material. About lithium, he claimed: “Get into the lithium industry, there are profit margins up to ninety percent, similar to the software industry, it’s like printing money.” More or less dubious financial professionals therefore recommend buying lithium shares, which have since risen significantly in value. Of course, Elon Musk has a high level of self-interest in lithium becoming more socially relevant. Because the light metal is in the batteries and accumulators of mobile phones, laptops and, of course, Musk’s electric cars. But what is lithium, what is it used for and what are the advantages and disadvantages of the supposed substance of the future? Prof. Ralf Wehrspohn is Managing Director of the German Lithium Institute ITEL and gives an overview in the 301st episode of “Today important”.
“We are only at the beginning of the lithium boom”
Lithium is the lightest metal on earth, which is why it is often used for batteries and rechargeable batteries. The ITEL is part of the Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg and is not only researching the raw material itself, but also how it can be recycled sustainably and how by-products can be used. With this know-how, Germany could establish itself in an international market that has so far depended primarily on Chile, Australia and Argentina. And last but not least from China, explains Prof. Ralf Wehrspohn: “The refineries, which convert raw materials into available products in a similar way to crude oil, are in China. We are already very dependent there.” The lithium is processed in China and then exported to Europe.
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“From 2030, technologies for large-scale lithium recycling will be needed”
How can Germany now jump on this hype? There are possibilities, because in the Upper Rhine Valley there is lithium for about one million electric cars underground. And also in the Ore Mountains and other places in Germany, smaller amounts were discovered in the rock. But the ITEL wants to start with the biggest point of criticism from environmentalists: inside. China, for example, simply dumps by-products and waste products in landfills, so far there has been no recycling of lithium. According to Prof. Wehrspohn, that is exactly what needs to change in Germany. With his institute, he is researching a new value chain: “We must be able to recycle the lithium at the latest when the first large generation of electric cars is scrapped.”
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Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
