According to Reuters, Stellantis has invested over $100 million into California's Controlled Thermal Resources as it pursues direct lithium extraction to create EV batteries.

The investment follows recent concerns about lithium supplies falling short in the face of rising EV demand. 

Direct lithium extraction is a process that mechanically filters lithium from salty brine deposits. This eliminates the need for open pit mines or large evaporation ponds and the environmental harm they inflict.

Controlled Thermal will be spending over $1 billion to extract lithium from superhot geothermal brines, taken from beneath California's Salton Sea following steam being flashed off the brines that will spin turbines producing electricity. The electricity from the turbines will reduce the amount of carbon released throughout lithium production.

Companies such as Berkshire Hathaway have failed to extract lithium from that same area due to silica in the brine that forms glass when cooled and clog pipes. Controlled Thermal has recently installed a $65 million facility that will be separating silica and other unwanted metals.

Stellantis will also nearly triple the amount of lithium it is purchasing from Controlled Thermal, making it 65,000 metric tons annually for 10 years minimum, beginning in 2027.