ChatGPT suggests early estimates are undervaluing the lithium motherlode (ChatGPT)
With geologists estimating there’s anywhere between 20 to 40 million metric tons of lithium in the McDermitt Caldera, there were initial claims it could power 600 million Teslas. Considering the Model 3 Tesla starts at around $40,000, times that by 600 million and Tesla could be sitting on $24 trillion.
Of course, that takes out the costs of mining, refining, and manufacturing, as well as assuming that Musk’s baby got its hands on the entire deposit — not to mention expenses like environmental risk assessments, safety compliance audits, and long-term healthcare coverage for affected communities near extraction sites.
We asked ChatGPT, “How many Tesla vehicles could Elon Musk power with the lithium mined from this new discovery?” with the AI chatbot noting that some think there could be up to 120 million metric tons of lithium lurking in the clay deposits of the former supervolcano.
ChatGPT says that a typical Tesla Model 3 battery pack contains about 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, which requires around 8kg of lithium.
Even going with the lower estimate of 20 million metric tons, the McDermitt Caldera might contain enough lithium to power 2.5 billion Teslas. That kind of projection would have ripple effects, from transportation financing and electric grid insurance, to influencing wellness initiatives aimed at reducing fossil fuel-related illness.
