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USGS estimate: 2.3 million metric tons of lithium oxide potentially economically…

2026-05-08 · 17:24 UTC ·@jasonc_nc ·1 min read

Brief

Jason (@jasonc_nc) argues the Carolinas are becoming the U.S. EV "battery belt," citing a USGS estimate of 2.3M metric tons of recoverable lithium oxide—about 1.43M tons in the Carolinas—plus a $16B Toyota battery plant in NC, Scout Motors’ SC plant, BMW/Volvo EV production (BMW adding $1.7B + $700M), and King’s Mountain’s first-phase capacity for ~1.2M EVs/year.

Why it matters

USGS estimate: 2.3 million metric tons of lithium oxide potentially economically recoverable in the U.S., with about 1.43 million metric tons concentrated in the Carolinas (per @jasonc_nc).

Key details

  • Manufacturing proximity: a reported $16B Toyota EV battery plant in North Carolina; Scout Motors building an EV auto plant in South Carolina with HQ in Charlotte; South Carolina already builds BMW and Volvo EVs, and BMW announced a $1.7B expansion plus $700M for battery production.
  • Processing capacity: the King’s Mountain, NC facility under construction would in its first phase process enough lithium for ~1.2 million EVs per year; author frames NC/SC as an emerging domestic EV 'battery belt' and uses hashtag #LongNC.
Source evidence

If you believe onshoring lithium production is a critical supply chain need, then you’re #LongNC

Jason, Coffee Shop Oligarch (@jasonc_nc)

Happy Friday and here’s another reason to bullish on the Carolinas - what may well become the EV “battery belt”.

“Out of the 2.3 million metric tons of lithium oxide that USGS estimates may be economically recoverable… about 1.43 million metric tons are estimated to be concentrated in the Carolinas.”

Having the largest lithium deposits in the U.S. close to say, a $16B EV Toyota battery plant just to the east in NC doesn’t hurt. Plus a new EV auto plant from Scout Motors just over the border in SC, with headquarters in Charlotte.

South Carolina already manufactures BMW and Volvo EVs and BMW recently announced a $1.7B expansion to scale up their lines, plus another $700M for battery production.

Meanwhile we have the King’s Mountain, NC facility under construction which would process enough lithium under first phase for 1.2M EV vehicles per year. A domestic NC/SC lithium supply chain for Toyota, BMW, Volvo and now Scout is becoming very realistic.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

(H/t @jwf_3 for the heads up)

— https://nitter.net/jasonc_nc/status/2052785668493901892#m