# The great rush for battery metals

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2022-04-21
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals

## Summary

Kurt House, CEO and co-founder of KoBold Metals, explains that the energy transition faces a critical bottleneck in securing supply for five key battery metals: lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements. He details how changing battery chemistries, such as the shift toward nickel-rich cathodes to reduce reliance on expensive and geopolitically risky cobalt, are reshaping metal markets. House argues that new discoveries are essential because existing reserves are insufficient for the projected growth in electric vehicle adoption and renewable energy infrastructure.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals#t=38) Introduction: The need for new battery metal discoveries
- [5:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals#t=338) The five key metals: Copper, Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, and Rare Earths
- [17:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals#t=1057) Battery chemistries: NMC vs. LFP and the role of Nickel and Cobalt
- [26:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals#t=1566) Market volatility: Nickel price spikes and Lithium supply constraints
- [44:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals#t=2664) The future of recycling and the circular economy
- [50:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals#t=3005) Geopolitics: Reducing reliance on Russia and the DRC
- [53:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-21-the-great-rush-for-battery-metals#t=3229) E-room's Law and the decline in exploration effectiveness

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- KoBold Metals (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- Arcadia (company)
- Advanced Energy Economy (company)
- Prelude Ventures (company)
- Cobalt (other)
- Nickel (other)
- Lithium (other)
- Copper (other)
- Rare Earth Elements (other)
- LFP (other)
- NMC (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Electric Car Superiority | The Supply Chain is All Mine | Cookies for Calculus](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-07-10-electric-car-superiority-the-supply-chain-is-all-mine-cookies-for-calculus) (EE Times Current)
- [3D electrodes for Next Generation Batteries with Moshiel Biton, CEO and Co-founder of Addionics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-10-13-3d-electrodes-for-next-generation-batteries-with-moshiel-biton-ceo-and-co-founde) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [From the Battlefield to the Supply Chain: A Marine’s Mission to Secure Critical Minerals with Ian Killough, President of Ridgeline Elements](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tough-tech-vets/2025-02-10-from-the-battlefield-to-the-supply-chain-a-marines-mission-to-secure-critical-mi) (Tough Tech Vets)
- [Why Your Toughest Parts Still Use 50-Year-Old Materials w/ Fazal Mahmood](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-09-08-why-your-toughest-parts-still-use-50-year-old-materials-w-fazal-mahmood) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The Role of Energy Storage Systems in Combating Climate Change with Mike Wietecki of Powin and John Thomas of ESS](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-05-09-the-role-of-energy-storage-systems-in-combating-climate-change-with-mike-wieteck) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

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