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USGS Says Appalachian Lithium Could Support EV Battery Demand
Study Estimates Enough Metal for Millions of Vehicles and Grid Batteries That Could Span Centuries
Parts of the Appalachian region of the eastern U.S. hold enough lithium to curb America’s reliance on imports for centuries, according to new research by the U.S. Geological Survey, underscoring domestic resource potential as demand for critical minerals accelerates.
The areas — primarily covering Maine, New Hampshire and the Carolinas, holds an estimated 2.3 million metric tons of undiscovered, economically recoverable lithium, said a USGS study published April 28. That’s enough of the battery metal to replace 328 years of U.S. imports at last year’s level, and enough to power 130 million electric vehicles or 1.6 million grid-scale batteries, the agency said.
“This research shows that the Appalachians contain enough lithium to help meet the nation’s growing needs — a major contribution to U.S. mineral security, at a time when global lithium demand is rising rapidly,” USGS Director Ned Mamula said in a statement.
RELATED: US, Allies Target China With Critical Minerals Framework
The U.S. imports more than half its consumption of lithium, a key ingredient in batteries that power EVs, computers and phones. Dependence on foreign supply was a factor that contributed to including lithium on last year’s USGS critical minerals list. The U.S. has one domestic producer, Albemarle Corp., though Canada’s Lithium Americas Corp. and Australia’s Ioneer are seeking to build mines in Nevada.
PERSPECTIVE: The US Needs Lithium Independence
Global lithium supply remains concentrated, with China dominating the world’s supply of processed lithium. The USGS expects global lithium production capacity to double by 2029 on increasing demand.
