Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk on Thursday denied allegations that the use of cobalt in EVs is leading to human rights violations including child labor.
What Happened: Unlike cellphone and laptop batteries that use cobalt, most electric cars use none, Musk said.
“Those that do use cobalt, use very little, as the cathode is primarily nickel, which performs better and costs less than cobalt,” Musk wrote.
He was responding to claims made by climate activist Clover Hogan that the demand for cobalt grows with the rise in demand for EVs. A majority of this cobalt is mined in Congo and leads to human rights abuses including child ...