New research found that America is missing out on a 'hidden goldmine' that could power millions of EVs

EV power from mineral waste could reshape the future of electric cars, but the United States is discarding it.

Research from the Colorado School of Mines found that lithium, cobalt, and manganese are being thrown away during US mining operations.

These metals are central to battery production and vital to the growth of electric cars and clean energy.

The findings reveal a stockpile of unused resources that could reshape industry and trade if recovered.

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Wasted EV power in US mines

The study estimates that enough lithium is discarded each year to make batteries for 10 million electric cars.

Manganese thrown away from the same sites could be used in nearly 100 million vehicles.

These elements are extracted but set aside as mineral waste when mining companies concentrate on gold, copper, and zinc.

The leftover rock and debris, known as tailings, sit near mine sites and often create environmental hazards.

Yet these tailings contain cobalt, gallium, neodymium, and other minerals needed for EV power, renewable energy, and advanced electronics.

The research found that recovering even one percent of this mineral waste would ease US dependence on imports.

Ten percent recovery could meet the country’s full demand for some resources.

Elizabeth Holley, lead author of the study, said the results provide a different way of looking at existing operations.

“We show where each critical mineral exists and the sites at which even one percent recovery could make a huge difference,” she said.

Recovering 10 percent of cobalt would meet the national need for electric car batteries.

Less than one percent of germanium recovery would remove the need for imports altogether.

The findings, published in Science, show the scale of the material being lost.

Rethinking US mining

The data also raises questions about how US mining is structured.

Neodymium and yttrium, both present in mineral waste, are essential not only for EV power but also for wind turbines, radar systems, and defense equipment.

Reclaiming these materials could expand domestic capacity in multiple industries.

US mining has long been directed toward metals with high market value.

Other resources are left in waste streams and rarely recovered.

Researchers suggest that investment in technology and policy incentives could make recovery cost-effective and shift the US from being a major importer to a potential exporter of critical minerals.

Changing how mineral waste is managed would cut import reliance and reduce environmental risks from tailings.

Lithium, cobalt, and manganese could be recovered to build batteries for millions of electric cars, supporting the growth of EV power across the country.

The study shows that current practices are discarding materials that could strengthen both the economy and supply chains for years to come.

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