In this episode of Breaking Math, Autumn and Nicolas Niarchos critique the "green" narrative of lithium-ion technology. Tracing the industry from its 1991 commercialization to modern geopolitical tensions, the hosts expose the exploitation and environmental degradation inherent in global mining, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By challenging the presumed sustainability of electric vehicles, they emphasize the need for supply chain transparency and urge listeners to adopt a more informed, ethically-conscious approach to modern consumption.

Takeaways

• What does it really cost to power the future?
• The bargain as stated is clean energy in one part and at the other end, you have corruption, pollution, and human suffering.
• The greenest vehicle is not always the electric one; it depends on the  ...