US seeks new lithium sources as demand for batteries grows

FILE - Discarded mobile phones fill a bin at the Out Of Use company warehouse in Beringen, Belgium on July 13, 2018. interest in lithium has exploded in recent years because of its use in rechargeable batteries for electric and hybrid cars, lawnmowers, power tools and more. Lithium batteries also power laptops and cell phones. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)