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These processes result in a significant environmental footprint, creating toxic waste streams and necessitating substantial water resources—approximately 99,000 liters of water for a moderate production scale of just 6.5 tons of materials daily. Furthermore, the need for complex installations adds to capital intensity and production costs.
Tesla’s Innovative Approach: Two Paths Forward
In contrast, Tesla’s newly patented cathode production process seeks to address these limitations. The application outlines an extensive framework—spanning over 100 pages—that includes alternate wet and dry production pathways, detailed flowcharts, and examples of various processing machinery.