[ti:Tesla Breaks Ground on Lithium Processing Center in Texas] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]American electric carmaker Tesla [00:03.84]has broken ground on a new lithium processing center [00:09.16]it says will support the production [00:12.52]of up to 1 million vehicles by 2025. [00:17.84]When completed, the factory in the state of Texas [00:22.52]will be the largest lithium processor [00:26.04]in North America, Reuters news agency reported. [00:30.88]The operation will push Tesla outside its main business [00:36.80]of manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs). [00:41.60]Lithium-based batteries are used to power most EVs. [00:48.32]Tesla chief Elon Musk said at a recent ground-breaking ceremony [00:54.84]the processing center will be required for the company [00:59.16]to reach its EV sales targets. [01:02.76]He explained that in just a few years, [01:06.88]lithium supplies worldwide are expected to face major shortages. [01:13.80]Musk said Tesla aims to complete construction of the factory next year. [01:21.00]It is expected to reach full production about one year later. [01:26.92]The move will make Tesla the only major [01:30.88]automaker in North America to refine its own lithium. [01:36.24]Currently, China is the biggest processor [01:40.44]of many in-demand minerals, including lithium. [01:45.12]Texas Governor Greg Abbott attended the ceremony. [01:50.48]He said, "Texas wants to be able to be self-reliant, [01:55.56]not dependent upon any foreign hostile nation [01:59.96]for what we need. We need lithium." [02:04.64]Musk did not give an exact estimate [02:08.32]for how much lithium the factory would process each year. [02:13.52]But he did say Tesla would continue to buy lithium [02:18.48]from two U.S.-based companies [02:21.56]it currently uses, Albemarle and Livent. [02:26.20]"So it's not that Tesla will do all of it," Musk noted. [02:31.88]Albemarle plans to build a lithium processing center in South Carolina [02:38.32]that will aim to refine 100,000 tons of the substance each year. [02:45.72]Building on that project is expected to begin next year. [02:51.68]Musk did not say where Tesla will get the unprocessed lithium, [02:58.20]which is known as spodumene concentrate. [03:02.40]Currently, the company has supply deals [03:06.08]with North Carolina-based Piedmont Lithium and others. [03:11.32]Tesla said it will avoid the lithium industry's traditional refining process, [03:19.16]which depends on sulfuric acid and other strong chemicals. [03:24.80]Instead, the company said it plans to use materials [03:29.64]that cause less environmental harm, such as soda ash. [03:35.36]"You could live right in the middle of the refinery [03:39.72]and not suffer any ill effect," Musk said. [03:44.24]"So they're very clean operations." [03:47.96]Local media reported, however, that some environmental activists [03:54.44]had raised concerns over the processing center. [03:58.96]I'm Bryan Lynn. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM