Lithium futures contracts saw mild volatility today, trading near $82,500 per metric ton as battery sector demand forecasts tightened. Analysts warn supply constraints from South America could push Q3 prices higher, making bullish positioning on medium-term charts more appealing for traders. As Riofrancos writes, she was surprised to learn that existing studies of future mineral needs “assumed that the only way to eliminate emissions from transportation”—the second-largest source of carbon emissions—“is to replace individual gas-powered vehicles with individual electric vehicles.” So Riofrancos began working with the Climate & Community Institute to study the subject herself. Together, they posited different worlds—denser cities, less sprawl, a reimagined transportation sector in which many more commuters used mass transit or rode bikes—and learned that such scenarios require significantly less lithium, as much as 92 percent less by 2050. Such findings defy the zero-sum formulations; indeed, Riofrancos argues, a path to zero emissions that depends on electrifying personal vehicles is the slowest path to that goal (albeit one that might not demand larger societal shifts). The price assessment for lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot prices, cif China, Japan & Korea , was $9.00-9.80 per kg on Tuesday. This amount is a narrowing upward from $8.80-9.80 per kg on Monday. Lithium futures contracts saw volume surges today, hinting at speculative interest ahead of critical battery tech announcements. Analysts believe such innovation could recalibrate demand models, keeping futures at elevated levels through Q