EPISODE · Jun 29, 2026 · 15 MIN
How China Controls 80% of Your Tesla Battery: The $47 Billion Congo Secret
from Elsewhere · host Tyler Cooper
What if I told you that your Tesla's battery depends on minerals controlled by a country that doesn't even make electric cars? In this episode, Tyler Cooper exposes how China quietly cornered 80% of the world's cobalt market in Congo, turning America's green energy dreams into Beijing's $47 billion chess move. This isn't just another trade story. It's about how one nation played the long game while everyone else was still figuring out the rules. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Congo's cobalt mines became China's secret weapon in the EV wars • How cobalt prices exploded 375% in just two years (and what that means for your next car) • The brutal reality of 40,000 children working in artisanal mines to power our "clean" future • China's playbook for controlling critical resources without owning the land 👤 Perfect for: Anyone who wants to understand the hidden costs of our green energy transition and how global economics really work behind the headlines. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Tyler Cooper reveals the Congo connection your Tesla dealer won't mention [02:15] How China captured 80% of cobalt production without mining a single ounce [05:30] The price explosion that changed everything: $20K to $95K per ton [08:45] Inside Congo's mines where children dig for your car battery [11:30] What this means for America's electric future Cooper spent months tracking this story across three continents, and the connections he found will change how you think about every "clean energy" promise you've heard. The green revolution has a dark side, and it's time someone talked about it honestly. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Elsewhere on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next eye-opening story is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: electric cars, cobalt mining, China trade strategy, Congo minerals, green energy ---------- Keywords: political education, world history, international podcast, world events explained, trade wars, global politics, geopolitics podcast, international stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
What if I told you that your Tesla's battery depends on minerals controlled by a country that doesn't even make electric cars? In this episode, Tyler Cooper exposes how China quietly cornered 80% of the world's cobalt market in Congo, turning America's green energy dreams into Beijing's $47 billion chess move. This isn't just another trade story. It's about how one nation played the long game while everyone else was still figuring out the rules. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Congo's cobalt mines became China's secret weapon in the EV wars • How cobalt prices exploded 375% in just two years (and what that means for your next car) • The brutal reality of 40,000 children working in artisanal mines to power our "clean" future • China's playbook for controlling critical resources without owning the land 👤 Perfect for: Anyone who wants to understand the hidden costs of our green energy transition and how global economics really work behind the headlines. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Tyler Cooper reveals the Congo connection your Tesla dealer won't mention [02:15] How China captured 80% of cobalt production without mining a single ounce [05:30] The price explosion that changed everything: $20K to $95K per ton [08:45] Inside Congo's mines where children dig for your car battery [11:30] What this means for America's electric future Cooper spent months tracking this story across three continents, and the connections he found will change how you think about every "clean energy" promise you've heard. The green revolution has a dark side, and it's time someone talked about it honestly. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Elsewhere on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next eye-opening story is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: electric cars, cobalt mining, China trade strategy, Congo minerals, green energy ---------- Keywords: political education, world history, international podcast, world events explained, trade wars, global politics, geopolitics podcast, international stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NOW PLAYING
How China Controls 80% of Your Tesla Battery: The $47 Billion Congo Secret
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.