It sounds like they're more concerned about Cobalt, Nickel, and child labor in the DRC.

My understanding is that there are already battery chemistries without these elements (LFP batteries) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery, and while they're currently not quite as good as the cobalt/nickel batteries, they're not far off and they're expected to improve (and they're mainstream enough that Tesla is already using them in some of their cars).

LFP does have somewhat lower energy density compared to nickel-based chemistries. But it also has excellent durability and and stability properties (long cycle life, no fires).

Not sure about cobalt and nickel, but child labor is a problem for all kinds of resources and not just those that go into batteries. This is a political problem not a technical problem.

> This is a political problem not a technical problem.

I don't think the article suggests otherwise. Political problems are part of the "how" of production.

Elon Musk said recently that he expects much of the car industry will move towards to lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cell chemistry, which contains no cobalt or nickel.

LiFePO4 has somewhat lower energy density compared to nickel-based chemistries, but significant cost advantages.

Tesla already uses LiFePO4 cells in many of its standard-range Model 3 vehicles.

For those downvoting this, here is the source:

"Tesla uses no cobalt in the iron phosphate packs and almost none in the nickel-based chemistries.

I think probably there is a long-term shift more in the direction of iron-based lithium-ion cells rather over nickel ... I think probably we'll see a shift -- my guess is probably to two-thirds iron, one-third nickel, or something on that order. And this is actually good because there's plenty of iron in the world. There's an insane amount of iron. But nickel, there's much less nickel, and there's way less cobalt."

- Elon Musk -- Chief Executive Officer

Tesla (TSLA) Q2 2021 Earnings Call Transcript: https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2021/07/27/te...

Cobalt and nickel are the issue.