mspohr
Well-Known Member
OMG! You're right! Tesla hasn't even thought about the materials that go into the batteries!OK, so the Gigafactory will be *ready* to make batteries in August 2016.
*But what about the raw material supplies?* Tesla's going to have to sign contracts to buy large quantities of lithium, graphite, silicon, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, and manganese, at *least*, and possibly other things too. Until those are lined up the Gigafactory can't *actually* make batteries. And providing sufficient supply for some of those may require that new mines open up... which *takes a while*.
I know that such negotiations are generally secret until they are concluded, but I'm surprised that not one of them has been concluded yet. We may see a delay in Gigafactory production due to materials supply.
Quick! Someone tell Elon so he can avoid this big mistake!