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by Tade0 2026 days ago
Minor nitpick: li-ion batteries contain no rare-earths.

The catalysts used in oil refining do on the other hand - specifically Lanthanum.

1 comments

The motor being run off it likely has neodymium magnets in it though?
First Teslas had an AC induction motor - no rare earths here as well, so it's actually possible to avoid them almost entirely.

That is, with the exception of control hardware - but you have the same in regular cars - around a pound of rare earths on average.