Tozero says its method also results in substantially lower emissions — 70% lower — than mining.

“The security of the raw material — it’s national security in a way,” Fleischer said. “There are so many underserved industries here in Europe that are starving for the material because Europe doesn’t produce lithium carbonate; we’re importing. If you look at [European Commission president] Ursula von der Leyen, she makes statements that we import over 97% of the lithium carbonate from China. So we’re highly dependent on the eastern front and mining industries.”