nprnews_____ = ||| lubuntu at wor2 670N|||California's 'White Gold' Rush: Lithium In Demand Amid Surge In Electric Vehicles||| kickerpage = |||no kicker pagenpr for NPRNEWS||| summarynpr = |||Automakers worry about a shortage of key minerals just as production of electric vehicles is set to spike. The Biden administration has called for boosting domestic production of them.

class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions"
data-crop-type="wide"
style="
--source-width: 5176;
--source-height: 2912;
"
>

Rod Colwell, CEO of Controlled Thermal Resources, is among many hoping to transform the area around California's Salton Sea into a domestic source of lithium for electric car batteries.



Benjamin Purper/KVCR


hide caption

toggle caption

Benjamin Purper/KVCR

Energy

California's 'White Gold' Rush: Lithium In Demand Amid Surge In Electric Vehicles

KVCR

Automakers worry about a shortage of key minerals just as production of electric vehicles is set to spike. The Biden administration has called for boosting domestic production of them.