US electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla began operations at its lithium refinery near Corpus Christi, Texas, creating a regional source for battery materials.
Tesla achieved the fastest time to market for this first-of-its-kind technology since breaking ground in 2023, the company said 14 January on social media platform X.
The Robstown site uses a process that eliminates hazardous byproducts from spodumene and instead generates a co-product which can be used in concrete mixes.
Tesla sources spodumene concentrate from the North American Lithium mine in Canada and Liontown's Kathleen Valley mine in Australia.
The refinery produces battery grade lithium hydroxide, with capacity to supply lithium raw materials for over 500,000 EVs/year.
The refinery gives Tesla a regional supply chain for battery raw materials to support its EV plant in Austin, Texas, and other facilities.
