Recycling of Li battery on industrial scale is now profitable. 95%?recovery. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries expected life is more then 1,00,000 miles. The efficiency of mining may improve, at least the is investment. 50% of EV could get by with 1/3 the battery range if charging times and charging networks improve. That 50% of car owner could learn to love a $15,000 car with lower cost of ownership. Anyway the article assumes a static environment, it is in fact evolving.