Lithium-ion batteries

China: Poor Virus Handling Obstructs Electric Vehicle Manufacturing

Two cobalt salt plants in China’s eastern province of Zhejiang halted production on December 10 in response to local Chinese coronavirus “flare-ups,” the Global Times reported Thursday, noting the labor suspensions threaten to cause a spike in the prices of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, which rely on cobalt as a key component.

This photo taken on November 29, 2021 shows a resident undergoing a nucleic acid test for