We're going to be mining asteroids soon, no factor. The rare earths needed are plentiful throughout asteroids like psyche, which we're launching a probe to soon.
Electric vehicles will continue to usurp gas vehicles. As they continue to make them more and more obsolete. People won't want them as much anymore.
Asteroid mining would be extremely expensive and risky. The idea that it'll be done "soon" on any significant scale is dubious at best. Rare Earth metals are plentiful on Earth. It's just a name, like Noble Gases. EVs are not usurping ICE vehicles now, so they won't "continue" to. You're entirely full of shit.
You'll eat those words eventually.
No. In our lifetime asteroid mining will not be viable, Rare Earths will not be scarce, and EVs will continue to be an "also ran" in car sales.
Usurp? Obsolete? Electric vehicles haven't even depreciated ICE. To even begin thinking so requires massive improvements to the power grid. They are pushing in the wrong direction.
Currently EVs are play toys for the snobby or indoctrinated. They have some very serious issues. And will remain so until the battery technology significantly improves and the power grid is heavily expanded with new nuclear and fossil power plants. If you don't see this on the horizon, EVs are going nowhere.
Don't get me wrong, EVs can make it and are technically superior to ICE - in many ways. But they have a long way to go and are not usurping anything.
Isn't their whole goal to reduce CO2 emissions?
Asteroids are hollow shells of mostly gravel. We're in for a big surprise when we try to ramp up asteroid mining.
I love how you're rationality for the use of electric cars includes the need to mine asteroids
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