Its funny how those analyzing Lithium mining and battery production costs often take the view that oil exploration / drilling / social costs of dealing with corrupt petro-states are sunk costs and not to be counted! For example, do you reckon that 75% of the 2nd Iraq war was because Iraq is a petrostate, and add those costs / CO2 expense to the ICE etc accounting sheet?
On the matter of "why bother with EVs... there will always be wars, volcanos, burning peat bogs etc" then we have to remember that CO2-encouraged global warming is an existential threat to our comfy western way of life. ANYTHING that can substantially change the game is worthy of trial and investment.
