Ernest Scheider

And so you're starting to see these sprout up at home improvement stores across the United States and really the world. Here's the question that I have, though. Where do all the critical minerals used to make that electric leaf blower come from? Do we know that the copper is ethically sourced?

And so you're starting to see these sprout up at home improvement stores across the United States and really the world. Here's the question that I have, though. Where do all the critical minerals used to make that electric leaf blower come from? Do we know that the copper is ethically sourced?

Do we know that the lithium was produced in a sustainable manner that honored ESG and environmental commitments? And what about the other critical minerals in there? And we don't know.

Do we know that the lithium was produced in a sustainable manner that honored ESG and environmental commitments? And what about the other critical minerals in there? And we don't know.

Do we know that the lithium was produced in a sustainable manner that honored ESG and environmental commitments? And what about the other critical minerals in there? And we don't know.

As part of my book, I actually went down this rabbit hole of trying to figure out where do all the critical minerals come from in these leaf blowers and other household appliances now that are powered by lithium ion batteries. And I couldn't actually find an answer because tracking that supply chain was extremely difficult. So this is not just about electric vehicles.

As part of my book, I actually went down this rabbit hole of trying to figure out where do all the critical minerals come from in these leaf blowers and other household appliances now that are powered by lithium ion batteries. And I couldn't actually find an answer because tracking that supply chain was extremely difficult. So this is not just about electric vehicles.

As part of my book, I actually went down this rabbit hole of trying to figure out where do all the critical minerals come from in these leaf blowers and other household appliances now that are powered by lithium ion batteries. And I couldn't actually find an answer because tracking that supply chain was extremely difficult. So this is not just about electric vehicles.

This is about all the devices that we use every single day that are increasingly powered by these lithium ion batteries. They're all built with critical minerals.

This is about all the devices that we use every single day that are increasingly powered by these lithium ion batteries. They're all built with critical minerals.

This is about all the devices that we use every single day that are increasingly powered by these lithium ion batteries. They're all built with critical minerals.

Yes, yeah, exactly. So for many of these critical minerals, they're extracted the way that you would extract, say, gold or silver, sort of that you actually, you know, you have a big, you know, caterpillar or other piece of large earth-moving equipment that would take the rock out of the ground, and then you would process it in a series of chemical steps.

Yes, yeah, exactly. So for many of these critical minerals, they're extracted the way that you would extract, say, gold or silver, sort of that you actually, you know, you have a big, you know, caterpillar or other piece of large earth-moving equipment that would take the rock out of the ground, and then you would process it in a series of chemical steps.

Yes, yeah, exactly. So for many of these critical minerals, they're extracted the way that you would extract, say, gold or silver, sort of that you actually, you know, you have a big, you know, caterpillar or other piece of large earth-moving equipment that would take the rock out of the ground, and then you would process it in a series of chemical steps.

That is the case for most of these critical minerals. Some have different methodologies, though, by ways that they are produced. Lithium, for instance, can be produced by basically filtering out lithium from brines or salty waters. And these are often found in places of South America, like in Chile or Bolivia or Argentina. But there's no way around it that broadly this involves mining.

That is the case for most of these critical minerals. Some have different methodologies, though, by ways that they are produced. Lithium, for instance, can be produced by basically filtering out lithium from brines or salty waters. And these are often found in places of South America, like in Chile or Bolivia or Argentina. But there's no way around it that broadly this involves mining.

That is the case for most of these critical minerals. Some have different methodologies, though, by ways that they are produced. Lithium, for instance, can be produced by basically filtering out lithium from brines or salty waters. And these are often found in places of South America, like in Chile or Bolivia or Argentina. But there's no way around it that broadly this involves mining.

And mining is just not popular, depending on who you talk to. Mining is loud and it's intrusive and it can have an effect on the environment. But we have to have mining in order to have this electrified future. So there's a huge tension there.

And mining is just not popular, depending on who you talk to. Mining is loud and it's intrusive and it can have an effect on the environment. But we have to have mining in order to have this electrified future. So there's a huge tension there.

And mining is just not popular, depending on who you talk to. Mining is loud and it's intrusive and it can have an effect on the environment. But we have to have mining in order to have this electrified future. So there's a huge tension there.