Time for another reminder of something Elon promised.
Back in 2023, Tesla broke ground on a Texas lithium refinery. At the time, Musk said the refinery would produce enough battery-grade lithium for 1 million electric vehicles by 2025.
Tesla’s earnings report includes an update about the refinery. Tesla says it has processed its first “spodumene (lithium-containing concentrate) through the front-end of the lithium refinery” and that the material was “on-spec.” In other words, it’s a first step and definitely not close to battery-grade yet.
Tesla plans to start bringing the plant online in 2025 before actually scaling production.
Just a little reminder that this lithium refinery is in Corpus Christi, Texas, a part of the state that is so dry that the local water company regularly limits lawn watering and car washing. Tesla has reportedly said it would require 8 million gallons of water per day to refine lithium at that factory.
