While lithium extraction technologies generally focus on ways to get the essential metal out of the ground, there's another source to mine: existing batteries that no longer work. A new technique could now make that process economically viable.
Without this kind of progress described (meaning reutilising, refining or reprocessing lithium), mining might become even more brutal to keep costs down for investors and corporate buyers, but remain ever more expensive for consumers.
Mining costs are probably subject to more increases, as things get harder to access and environmental laws tighten.
Without this kind of progress described (meaning reutilising, refining or reprocessing lithium), mining might become even more brutal to keep costs down for investors and corporate buyers, but remain ever more expensive for consumers.