Electric vehicle rollout 'could slow due to lithium deficit'

The speed in the rise of UK electric vehicle (EV) sales could slow within the next few years due to a worldwide deficit in the lithium needed for car batteries, according to experts. Since June, car giants GM and Stellantis, which owns Peugeot, Fiat and Citroen, have pledged 30 billion dollars (£21.6bn) and 35 billion (US) dollars (£25.2bn) respectively in electrification investments in the next four years. But core to this strategy is the need to secure a long-term supply of raw materials including lithium. As a result lithium demand could triple by 2025 to one million tonnes per year…