I`ve looked into utilising LiFePO4 batteries on my motorcycles but they require specific regimes of use and charging so are not really suitable for my use:
http://www.lifebatt.co.uk/faq.htmlWhat we must remember folks is the availability of lithium, as an element it`s quite rare:
http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele003.htmlNow, we are talking of utilising battery technology encompassing lithium in the battle of `weaning` mankind off his reliance on fossil fuels for the future good of the planet are we not?
Most lithium is obtained from Spodumene:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpodumenePrimarily because it`s by far the cheapest way to get the purity required, remember some lithium is used medicinally to help stabilise bi-polar conditions.
There`s always a price to pay for technology, the Chinese are folowing the Canadians in gearing up to deep ocean floor mining of minerals, their sights are set upon mining around hydrothermal vents which are already very sensitive areas to mess with, De Beers and others are already mining diamonds from the ocean floor.I`m not in any way convinced about the `minimal` environmental damage claims being banded about, the marine environment is already under intense pressure from pollution, warming and industrial fishing activities:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepsea_miningUse vehicles LESS, that`s the real way forward.