I would just add the cost/process/tailings/chemicals used/environmental damage of turning lithium ore into pure lithium. I don't know much about this process, but given lithium's unstable nature, I can't imagine the process being more environmentally friendly than processing other metals.

As always, there are tradeoffs that need to be made as we replace one technology with another. Perhaps we will find the solutions to lithium's problems as we move further into this technology.

There is no way we would go back to horse urine and horse feces splattered all over our streets.