, Columnist
Cobalt's Chemistry Experiment
The cocktails of elements used to make lithium-ion batteries are diverse, and the mix can vary wildly.
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All batteries are not created equal.
The 53 kilowatt-hour pack on a 2008 Tesla Inc. Roadster contains an estimated 38 kilograms of cobalt, a key element that some analysts fear may be running out. The same-sized battery on a 2017 Tesla would have about one-eighth of that, or 4.8 kilograms.