The Lithium Economy

The Lithium Economy provides detailed analysis of the global lithium value chain from a variety of perspectives. The first part addresses the overall lithium market with a specific emphasis on the Lithium Triangle in South America. Subsequent chapters dive into the specifics of lithium mining in the U.S., including mining law, the mining bureaucracy, permitting requirements, and how politics affect the lithium value chain in America. The author then conducts a comparative analysis of lithium value chains in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Europe, and China. Other chapters address topics such as the lithium-ion battery industry, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), charging networks, urban mining, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. The final chapter discusses disruption to the lithium value chain to include the COVID19 pandemic, global shipping inflation, and the war in Ukraine. Throughout the book, the author focuses on critical minerals strategy, leadership, decision making, global supply chains, and competition between international actors. This is a thorough work for interested readers looking to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the topic.