But how serious are the Chinese with their threats? Last time they restricted supply to boost prices they overdid it so much that the demand destruction was enormous. Phosphors, cerium, lanthanum, all largely or totally replaced by alternatives which have by and large continued as the preferred material due to obsolescence of the REE use (lasers, phosphors in lighting) or simply improved efficiencies of the new product (OLEDs). Now NdPr free EV motors are nearly here with BMW’s fifth generation motors:
https://electrek.co/2018/06/25/bmw-next-gen-electric-powertrain-technology-ix3/
Surely the Chinese wouldn’t risk another DD event? I’m sure the militaries of the world have stocked up on the essentials, especially after the last price spike.
