[zoomablemind]

>... a strong political interest to not use oil anymore (as Japan as to import almost all of their primary energy), to a desire to build out with less dependence on China based minerals and supply chains ...

Given the Toyota's scale and general scarcity of rare-earth minerals, betting fully on the li-ion tech would be indeed too risky without a viable plan B towards EV. Does the world economy need any more reasons to empower China? Can't see Japan's interest in that, given the recent developments in South China sea and environs.

I hope Toyota's engineering efforts will again provide an alternative which would progress beyond the current trend.

[rcMgD2BwE72F]

They are no rare-earth minerals in Li-Ion batteries!

There may be some in electric motors, but 1) hydrogen vehicles need those motors too and 2) it is not required (some EV have zero rare-earth mineral already).

[coolspot]

Most of efficient Li-Ion batteries use cobalt mined by slaves in Congo. Tesla promises to reduce cobalt content but they didn’t yet.

[davidgould]

Tesla has reduced (but not yet eliminated) cobalt in their batteries over the years and has further reductions in the works.

Tesla does not source cobalt from the Congo.