I was speaking about the mining of lithium.

Has to be done in countries like Afghanistan because it is so toxic.
Just that makes it more polluting then gasoline ICE.

Now, something we should do is go back to working on gasoline turbines. They are way more efficient than ICEs, the problem was the gearing. turbines can't handle various RPMs and varying torque loads that is needed to directly drive wheels. But they can power a gen-set.

Further, we could use a Tesla Turbine, making it buildable by any guy in his garage with a lathe.

Couple that with new super-capacitors, and we will see real improvements in automotives.

However, we are about to see people changing from going to a job, to living in tight groups called families, and will pretty much just stop driving.
That and the single rail automated shipping train/containers that go to each community.