Lithium’s True Inflection Point (YJ Lee)

With so much unfolding in China across the battery metals space, we sat down with YJ Lee at the perfect time.

YJ runs a fund focused on the energy transition and brings deep expertise in both metals and battery markets. In this conversation we dig into China’s policy pivot toward anti-involution and its knock-on effects for lithium and EVs.

From there we dive deep into lithium itself – covering the demand/supply outlook, the surge in BESS, why inventories are often misunderstood, and plenty more.

Follow YJ on Twitter: https://x.com/usuallyYJLee

Recorded 19 August 2025.


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▶️ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction
02:06 China's Anti-Evolution Policy Impact on Lithium Markets
04:40 China's Competitive Market Dynamics
14:20 Licensing in China's Lithium Industry
20:00 The Growing Demand for EVs
24:14 Astounding Growth in BESS
25:17 China's Commercial Battery Economics
27:37 Solar and Battery Integration
28:33 LFP Dominance
29:25 CATL and Sodium-Ion Batteries
31:36 Lithium Market Dynamics
40:06 Global EV Adoption Trends
42:51 Overrated or Underrated: Quick Fire Segment
45:40 Closing Remarks and Reflections

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