Tesla co-founder touts battery recycling benefits

Among the biggest challenges to transforming automobiles from combustion engines to electricity to fight climate change is the shortage of metals needed to make batteries. Early on, JB Straubel saw a huge opportunity from the shortage -- rescuing metals from spent lithium-ion batteries and recycling them for new ones.

Traubel, Redwood's CEO said "I actually thought we were a few years early when we started this," "And it felt like we were ahead of the game, but I've been really shocked at how many other sources of current lithium-ion battery materials and batteries there are to recycle that weren't being addressed."

Now, the startup based in Carson City, Nevada, has more than 300 employees who recycle used batteries. It has supply contracts with Ford and Panasonic, which makes batteries for Tesla.Straubel, Redwood's CEO, recently spoke to The Associated Press about the market for the metals and how recycling will help the U.S. establish its own electric-vehicle supply chain