General Motors looks to California for its next lithium supply

The world car makers will need a number of lithium which dropped the jaw when they turned to building electric vehicles in bulk. Lithium is not uncommon, but analysts say that the mining industry is not really ready for future demand levels because companies like Tesla try to lock tens of thousands of tons of lithium salt a year from places such as Australia and China.

On Friday, General Motors announced that some of the lithium supplies might come from far closer to the house. GM will invest and collaborate with the controlled thermal resources to exploit lithium salts from the Salton Sea in California, naming the “hell’s Kitchen.”

The company will release a new battery arrangement built using a general battery platform. Known as an ulty battery, cells will be built in Ohio at the $ 2.3 billion joint venture plant with LG Chem. GM previously stated that he wanted as many domestic sources as possible raw materials for new eVs.

“By securing and localizing the Lithium supply chain in the US, we help ensure our ability to create strong, affordable, while also helps reduce environmental impacts and bring more low-cost lithiums as a whole,” said Doug Parks, Executive Vice President GM responsible for product development, purchasing and supply chain.

The CTR hell kitchen project will extract lithium salts from geothermal salt water in the Salton Sea. By using heat from salt water to power the processing, he hopes to produce 15,000 tons of lithium carbonate and 49.9 MW energy by 2023.