Limits to LithiumIn 2018 lithium production was 97,00 tonnes. According to the USGS, proven reserves were 17 million tonnes. Possible and contingent, with a probability of 10 percent are 80 million tonnes. I read that production could triple by 2024. One of the most important criteria in turning possibles into proven is economics which means price. Now the question is there enough lithium? At 8 million cars per year and 63 kg per car they will consume 504,000 per year. Current reserves if used only for evs can provide enough for 174 million eva or 12.4 percent of the market. But added to ev demand is the need to provide battery backup for wind and solar. Currently they are typically one to two hours of back up. As the world pivots to wind and off fossil fuels will grow. Current capacity is 6.2 Tw with two thirds served by fossil fuels. About 25 percent is hydro and nuclear. In order to run a stabil grid at least 2 Tw with 12 hour storage will be required and will use 20 million tons of lithium. Jim Gray a Calgary world renowned geolisgist came up with a theory of development in a triangle. At the top were the cheapest and most prolific (in Saudi Arabia) with oilsands near the bottom. My point is some of the contingent lithium reserves may never be developed and if they they will take a long time to develop (anyone here ever been disappointed by a mining stock) and will be expensive. Bottomline lithium shortages will occur as I believe ev production growth can outstrip supply. As complete swag, I'd say lithium reserves will not exceed 20 million tonnes as the easy stuff has been developed.