Lithium Demand Outstrip Supply until 2023Further to the unexpected rapid demand for Electric Vehicles (contributing to the extreme Lithium shortage), the fundamental Lithium supply shortfall could even get pushed forward into 2024 if the consumer starts doing in mass adoption what I am ready to do. Even though its just a piss in the wind in the overall Lithium demand side of the equation, however, given what Putin and Russia has pulled off in March to Ukraine and the great pain & suffering inflicted on the children and the elderly throughout Ukraine, more than ever I want to convert my 3 combustion Powertrain vehicles to EV specifications and I am in the process of assessing the General Motors EV "conversion" kit systems as I prefer the vehicles I currently own and not interested in buying "new".
More than willing to pay the added cost of the conversion from "Combustion engine" to "EV".
Yes, it's just a drop in the bucket with my contribution to the cause, however, extrapolate a Combustion Power-train to EV changeover around the world to vehicle owners of combustion engines who want to keep their existing vehicle without buying new to get EV functionality (2 Billion vehicles globally), especially in Germany and the rest of Europe (who uses 40% of Russian energy fuels) and the added demand for Lithium may delay the Lithium supply-demand balance that was anticipated for 2023 and even disrupt the Spot Lithium price further.
With Lithium accounting for only 2% of the typical Tesla battery pack, the rising Lithium price is not disruptive to the overall Tesla vehicle cost. Lithium, currently at $36 per pound can probably go as high as $50 per pound before Tesla and other EV battery manufacturers take a closer look at the Lithium input price.