lithium

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre has published the Transition Minerals Tracker 2026 for South America, compiling data on companies extracting minerals used in the energy transition, such as lithium and copper. The tracker monitors human rights allegations against mining firms across the region, a key supplier of raw materials for batteries and renewable technology.

Flooding from saltwater in South Jersey is causing electric vehicles to catch fire, as saltwater can short-circuit lithium-ion batteries and ignite blazes. Local officials are warning residents to move flooded EVs away from homes and garages. The incidents have raised fresh concerns about EV battery safety after coastal storms and tidal flooding hit the region.

A research team has used quantum computing to perform FLiBe chemistry calculations, according to the American Nuclear Society. FLiBe, a molten fluoride salt mixture of lithium and beryllium, is a leading coolant and fuel carrier for molten salt reactor designs. Accurate predictions of its chemical behavior are difficult for classical computers, making the work a notable step toward applying quantum methods to nuclear reactor design and simulation.