Posts
1995
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO US
This is kind of mind blowing. People think they are “saving the planet” !!
To manufacture each EV battery, you must process 25,000 pounds of brine for the lithium 30,000 pounds of ore for the cobalt 5,000 pounds of ore for the nickel, 25,000 pounds of ore for copper Diging up 500,000 pounds of the earth's crust For just - one - battery.
Posts
4202
Joined
1/19/2022
Location
Kingston, TN US
Joey Bridges 8/21/2023 7:48am
8/21/2023 7:48am
Just as disgusting as,
How many whales, and other marine animals, have to die in order to create an offshore wind turbine field.
Green energy is anything but.
Posts
1672
Joined
1/13/2016
Location
NJ US
Fantasy
540th
MotoTribology 8/21/2023 7:50am
8/21/2023 7:50am Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 7:53am
Gworm wrote:
This is kind of mind blowing. People think they are “saving the planet” !!To manufacture each EV battery, you must process 25,000 pounds of...
This is kind of mind blowing. People think they are “saving the planet” !!
To manufacture each EV battery, you must process 25,000 pounds of brine for the lithium 30,000 pounds of ore for the cobalt 5,000 pounds of ore for the nickel, 25,000 pounds of ore for copper Diging up 500,000 pounds of the earth's crust For just - one - battery.
What kind of math is this? What comprises the unaccounted for 440,000 lbs?
Posts
6177
Joined
12/22/2008
Location
Plano, TX US
Fantasy
157th
zookrider62! 8/21/2023 8:08am
8/21/2023 8:08am
An Instagram post shared an image of large machinery and said it’s "required to move 500,000 pounds of earth in order to get the minerals needed for one single Tesla car battery."
The only way a truck hauling 500,000 pounds of earth would contain minerals for just a single car battery is if the ore’s lithium content was 0.1%. The ores from the hard-rock mine Tesla uses contain up to 2.1% lithium.
It takes less than 10,000 pounds of material to produce 2,000 pounds of spodumene — a mineral filled with lithium aluminum inosilicate. The maximum amount of lithium a Tesla car battery contains is around 165 pounds.
The Shop
Maxima ProFilter Ready to Use Air Filter Image
$11.99
(7% off)
Up to 7% off at Rocky Mountain ATV/MC
Rolflex Arm & Leg Massager $79.95
(20% off)
Amazon.com
Acerbis X-Elite Handguards for MTB/E-Bike/Mini Dirtbike Image
$37.88
(24% off)
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC
Posts
1995
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO US
Gworm 8/21/2023 9:32am
8/21/2023 9:32am Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 9:34am
MotoTribology wrote:
What kind of math is this? What comprises the unaccounted for 440,000 lbs?
I apologize, I didn’t get the whole article.
The rest is the overburden to get down to the minerals.
Posts
1672
Joined
1/13/2016
Location
NJ US
Fantasy
540th
MotoTribology 8/21/2023 10:05am
8/21/2023 10:05am
MotoTribology wrote:
What kind of math is this? What comprises the unaccounted for 440,000 lbs?
Gworm wrote:
I apologize, I didn’t get the whole article.
The rest is the overburden to get down to the minerals.
I see. Thanks for the clarification.
Well, I guess you gotta crack a few Earths if you want to make a battery.
Posts
1995
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO US
Gworm 8/21/2023 10:30am
8/21/2023 10:30am
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery
Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt Lake City. This is a few miles southwest of the airport
I don’t have any idea what the are mining, but thought I’d post it as an example
Posts
6177
Joined
12/22/2008
Location
Plano, TX US
Fantasy
157th
Posts
1995
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO US
Gworm 8/21/2023 10:43am
8/21/2023 10:43am
zookrider62! wrote:
pretty sure thats a new mx track being built
That would be cool.
Posts
2609
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
HI US
Fantasy
1792nd
tcannon521 8/21/2023 1:15pm
8/21/2023 1:15pm
I find it hilarious no one cares about how much cobalt is required to refine gasoline. Also, cobalt used in gasoline refining isn’t recyclable unlike in electric vehicles. Ironically, over 50% of Teslas made now have zero cobalt in them.
But hey, it sounds good in a meme!!! 🙄
- Quote
Log in or register to post comments
See AlsoThe Paradox of Lithium
Posts
396
Joined
8/25/2016
Location
Okahumpka, FL US
Iridereallyslow 8/21/2023 1:36pm
8/21/2023 1:36pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 1:39pm
Gworm wrote:
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt...
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery
Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt Lake City. This is a few miles southwest of the airport
I don’t have any idea what the are mining, but thought I’d post it as an example
Thats the Bingham Canyon mine. They're mining copper. It's the largest man made excavation in the world.
Posts
940
Joined
10/2/2009
Location
Abilene, TX US
inflammable 8/21/2023 1:50pm
8/21/2023 1:50pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 2:15pm
tcannon521 wrote:
I find it hilarious no one cares about how much cobalt is required to refine gasoline. Also, cobalt used in gasoline refining isn’t recyclable unlike in...
I find it hilarious no one cares about how much cobalt is required to refine gasoline. Also, cobalt used in gasoline refining isn’t recyclable unlike in electric vehicles. Ironically, over 50% of Teslas made now have zero cobalt in them.
But hey, it sounds good in a meme!!! 🙄
Tcannon521, Found this online. Not posting as a gotcha or anything similar, just thought it was relevant info. Obviously I was ignorant of this so I did learn something today (damn it!!)
It takes about 1 pound of cobalt to remove the sulfur from 80,000 gallons of petroleum products, like gasoline. 80,000 gallons would power a car for about 2.4 million miles, but 98.8% of that cobalt is recoverable, meaning we permanently lose only a pound of cobalt for every 6.6 million gallons we refine.
Posts
2609
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
HI US
Fantasy
1792nd
tcannon521 8/21/2023 2:14pm
8/21/2023 2:14pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 2:19pm
inflammable wrote:
Tcannon521, Found this online. Not posting as a gotcha or anything similar, just thought it was relevant info. Obviously I was ignorant of this so I...
Tcannon521, Found this online. Not posting as a gotcha or anything similar, just thought it was relevant info. Obviously I was ignorant of this so I did learn something today (damn it!!)
It takes about 1 pound of cobalt to remove the sulfur from 80,000 gallons of petroleum products, like gasoline. 80,000 gallons would power a car for about 2.4 million miles, but 98.8% of that cobalt is recoverable, meaning we permanently lose only a pound of cobalt for every 6.6 million gallons we refine.
LOL, what world do you live in that 30MPG is the net average?
The better calculation is, the world consumes ~100 million barrels each day and each barrel produces 30 gallons (oil and gas) or 3 billion gallons a day. So using your comment above, we consume 37,500 pounds of cobalt each day or 13.7 million pounds a year!
Posts
940
Joined
10/2/2009
Location
Abilene, TX US
inflammable 8/21/2023 2:18pm
8/21/2023 2:18pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 2:26pm
inflammable wrote:
Tcannon521, Found this online. Not posting as a gotcha or anything similar, just thought it was relevant info. Obviously I was ignorant of this so I...
Tcannon521, Found this online. Not posting as a gotcha or anything similar, just thought it was relevant info. Obviously I was ignorant of this so I did learn something today (damn it!!)
It takes about 1 pound of cobalt to remove the sulfur from 80,000 gallons of petroleum products, like gasoline. 80,000 gallons would power a car for about 2.4 million miles, but 98.8% of that cobalt is recoverable, meaning we permanently lose only a pound of cobalt for every 6.6 million gallons we refine.
tcannon521 wrote:
LOL, what world do you live in that 30MPG is the net average?The better calculation is, the world consumes ~100 million barrels each day...
LOL, what world do you live in that 30MPG is the net average?
The better calculation is, the world consumes ~100 million barrels each day and each barrel produces 30 gallons (oil and gas) or 3 billion gallons a day. So using your comment above, we consume 37,500 pounds of cobalt each day or 13.7 million pounds a year!
I edited my post while you were posting. The main thing that piqued my interest was the statement the cobalt used in gasoline production was not recyclable, but seems that it is for the most part.
I also was curious about daily use and found the number you posted was pretty accurate (about 100 million barrels a day). I came across a website with a countdown based on current reserves and if it's reasonable then we have about 47 years of crude oil left. Yo me that's the most important reason we should be working on alternative energies.
Posts
2609
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
HI US
Fantasy
1792nd
tcannon521 8/21/2023 2:24pm
8/21/2023 2:24pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 2:26pm
inflammable wrote:
I edited my post while you were posting. The main thing that piqued my interest was the statement the cobalt used in gasoline production was not...
I edited my post while you were posting. The main thing that piqued my interest was the statement the cobalt used in gasoline production was not recyclable, but seems that it is for the most part.
I also was curious about daily use and found the number you posted was pretty accurate (about 100 million barrels a day). I came across a website with a countdown based on current reserves and if it's reasonable then we have about 47 years of crude oil left. Yo me that's the most important reason we should be working on alternative energies.
That’s fair, but the comment you shared is tailored to make it seem like a low amount. The reality is, a lot of gasoline and diesel is refined daily and simple math says the oil industry consumes ~13.7 million pounds of cobalt yearly, which is quite substantial!
Glad to hear I helped you learn something new today!
Posts
940
Joined
10/2/2009
Location
Abilene, TX US
inflammable 8/21/2023 2:28pm
8/21/2023 2:28pm
And I did it again! Maybe I can learn to run this forum machinery some day
I agree that even when considering it can be recycled, that is still a lot of cobalt "lost" every day.
Posts
2609
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
HI US
Fantasy
1792nd
tcannon521 8/21/2023 2:36pm
8/21/2023 2:36pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 2:47pm
olds cool wrote:
The other part of the question is how many peasant miners have to die to create one EV battery?
Unfortunately, the same amount that dig it out of the ground for any portable electronic device or gasoline vehicle.
If you’re interested in learning about EV’s and their environmental impact, Tesla does an excellent report yearly. Here is their latest one:https://www.tesla.com/ns_videos/2022-tesla-impact-report.pdf
Pit Row
Vampire Tearoffs Image
MX Plastics Image
Mika Metals Image
DeVol Racing '24 Image
Scar '24 Image
MX Graphics '24 Image
DeCal Works Image
Sunstar Image
Barnett Clutches '24 Image
Eagle Grit Image
Luxon MX '24 Image
Seat Concepts Image
Guts Racing Image
Dunlop Image
Liquid Skinz '24 Image
Factory MX Vacations Image
Moto Hose Image
Hinson Racing Image
6D Helmets Image
Twisted Development Image
Motul July '20 Image
Polisport Image
OMX Graphics '24 Image
Rocket Image
Tom Morgan Racing Image
Motul Image
Liquid Skinz 24' Image
Posts
43
Joined
8/5/2012
Location
ZA
Fantasy
4423rd
kyle_274 8/21/2023 2:40pm
8/21/2023 2:40pm
I can just imagine, all the people who bash EVs,
How they would have bashed gas cars when they were first released.
You want me to get rid of my horse! How dare you, I will not drive a huge block of steel to a shop, to put what? Gas into it so I can drive it? Ha, my horse eats my grass for free!
Why would I want to drive myself all the way to another town when I can climb on a steam train and get taken there?
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Ahhh people. 🙄
Posts
940
Joined
10/2/2009
Location
Abilene, TX US
inflammable 8/21/2023 2:47pm
8/21/2023 2:47pm
I found this a good read:
https://blog.greenenergyconsumers.org/blog/cobalt
Also found from the Washington Post:
Demand for cobalt is projected to increase20-fold by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency.
Posts
15825
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA US
Fantasy
54th
ML512 8/21/2023 3:09pm
8/21/2023 3:09pm
Gworm wrote:
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt...
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery
Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt Lake City. This is a few miles southwest of the airport
I don’t have any idea what the are mining, but thought I’d post it as an example
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.
They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of silver, gold, molybdenum, platinum, lead, and palladium.
It's the world's largest open pit mine. My older brother was a mining engineer based out of there for about 15 years or so. Been to the bottom, top, and all over that place. The scale in person is insane...
Posts
8786
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 8/21/2023 3:25pm
8/21/2023 3:25pm
Gworm wrote:
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt...
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery
Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt Lake City. This is a few miles southwest of the airport
I don’t have any idea what the are mining, but thought I’d post it as an example
ML512 wrote:
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of...
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.
They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of silver, gold, molybdenum, platinum, lead, and palladium.
It's the world's largest open pit mine. My older brother was a mining engineer based out of there for about 15 years or so. Been to the bottom, top, and all over that place. The scale in person is insane...
A guy down the street works there, he told me they get enough bi-product (silver and gold, etc.) to cover their operating costs...so all the copper they pull out is pure profit.
Posts
5583
Joined
3/28/2012
Location
TN US
SEE ARE125 8/21/2023 3:32pm
8/21/2023 3:32pm
Top Gear(the original British version) did an episode several years back comparing a BMW to a Prius and the Prius turned out to be way worse for the environment. Not only the mining of the metals for the battery, but then shipping it via cargo ship all around the world to be refined and produced into batteries. I can’t find the episode, but if you do it’s a good watch.
Posts
1995
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO US
Gworm 8/21/2023 3:39pm
8/21/2023 3:39pm
Gworm wrote:
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt...
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery
Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt Lake City. This is a few miles southwest of the airport
I don’t have any idea what the are mining, but thought I’d post it as an example
ML512 wrote:
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of...
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.
They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of silver, gold, molybdenum, platinum, lead, and palladium.
It's the world's largest open pit mine. My older brother was a mining engineer based out of there for about 15 years or so. Been to the bottom, top, and all over that place. The scale in person is insane...
Thanks, I was too busy (lazy) to research it. I’ve flown into SLC several times and I don’t remember noticing it before this time.
it’s pretty impressive from the air, too.
Do you happen to know how deep it is?
Posts
1995
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO US
Gworm 8/21/2023 3:45pm
8/21/2023 3:45pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 3:46pm
Gworm wrote:
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt...
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery
Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt Lake City. This is a few miles southwest of the airport
I don’t have any idea what the are mining, but thought I’d post it as an example
ML512 wrote:
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of...
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.
They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of silver, gold, molybdenum, platinum, lead, and palladium.
It's the world's largest open pit mine. My older brother was a mining engineer based out of there for about 15 years or so. Been to the bottom, top, and all over that place. The scale in person is insane...
Gworm wrote:
Thanks, I was too busy (lazy) to research it. I’ve flown into SLC several times and I don’t remember noticing it before this time.it’s...
Thanks, I was too busy (lazy) to research it. I’ve flown into SLC several times and I don’t remember noticing it before this time.
it’s pretty impressive from the air, too.
Do you happen to know how deep it is?
I just Bing’d it. .74 mi deep.
3900 ft.
Posts
11434
Joined
8/21/2006
Location
Arlington, TX US
SEEMEFIRST 8/21/2023 5:12pm
8/21/2023 5:12pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 5:13pm
Gworm wrote:
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt...
Here is a pic of the hole for 1 battery
Just kidding, I took this a few weeks ago flying in to Salt Lake City. This is a few miles southwest of the airport
I don’t have any idea what the are mining, but thought I’d post it as an example
ML512 wrote:
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of...
Bingham Canyon mine, aka Kennecott Copper mine.
They primarily mine copper from this mine, and as a consequence, they also end up with small amounts of silver, gold, molybdenum, platinum, lead, and palladium.
It's the world's largest open pit mine. My older brother was a mining engineer based out of there for about 15 years or so. Been to the bottom, top, and all over that place. The scale in person is insane...
Titan1 wrote:
A guy down the street works there, he told me they get enough bi-product (silver and gold, etc.) to cover their operating costs...so all the copper...
A guy down the street works there, he told me they get enough bi-product (silver and gold, etc.) to cover their operating costs...so all the copper they pull out is pure profit.
The folks working there are also working under very strict mining rules.
There are no barefoot children or pregnant women in that hole.
Well, perhaps a pregnant woman or 2 ....
Posts
1921
Joined
3/26/2016
Location
AU
DrinkMoreWater 8/22/2023 7:15pm
8/22/2023 7:15pm
What does turning everything electric ultimately do ? To track everything you do, this pair's in with digital Id and personal carbon footprint that will dictate when you're allowed to travel and what you can buy when you can buy etc.
Posts
4202
Joined
1/19/2022
Location
Kingston, TN US
Joey Bridges 8/23/2023 2:48am
8/23/2023 2:48am
SEE ARE125 wrote:
Top Gear(the original British version) did an episode several years back comparing a BMW to a Prius and the Prius turned out to be way worse...
Top Gear(the original British version) did an episode several years back comparing a BMW to a Prius and the Prius turned out to be way worse for the environment. Not only the mining of the metals for the battery, but then shipping it via cargo ship all around the world to be refined and produced into batteries. I can’t find the episode, but if you do it’s a good watch.
Somebody did the same thing recently with Porsche EV.
Time, and energy used looking for a place to charge.
Not being comfortable running down to near empty, like we all do with a ICE.
Heavier vehicle wore tyres down quicker, this leaving more rubber waste per mile, out on the roadways.
Also noted tge extra weight took away from the snappy feel.
Though acceleration was incredible.
All in all, I'll be sticking to my V6, and V8's
To post, please join, log in or connect to Vital using your Facebook profile Login with Facebook.