United States faces soaring lithium demand from electric‑vehicle shift

A Climate and Community Institute (CCI) report warns that the United States’ push to replace gasoline cars with electric vehicles could require three times the world’s current lithium production by 2050. The surge in demand – projected to be more than 40 times higher than today by 2040 – would intensify water scarcity, encroach on Indigenous lands and threaten ecosystems if mining expands.

The study says that ambitious policies such as strong public‑transport investment, pedestrian‑friendly urban design and large‑scale battery‑recycling could cut more than 90 % of the additional lithium needed. Current U.S. transportation emissions remain the largest source of carbon, and the Biden administration’s target of net‑zero transport by 2050 relies heavily on electric‑vehicle adoption. By 2030, over half of new car sales in the U.S. are expected to be electric, and states like New York and California have set timelines to phase out gasoline cars. Protests and lawsuits against lithium mining are rising, reflecting concerns over environmental justice and supply‑chain geopolitics.