Lithium production - environmental impact

I posted this same content in the AGY forum.

I was at a conference a couple weeks back and an "expert" in the field of lithium production was saying the following:

Go and buy a brand new 2017 model 4 cylinder turbo diesel vehicle, one fitted with a DPF and that meets current Euro emission thresholds.
Now drive that car home from the dealership and leave it in the driveway, BUT leave the motor running.
Go inside (vehicle still running) and come back out 8 years later and turn it off (make sure you have enough diesel supply).
The energy consumed, the emissions and pollutants expelled from the vehicle in that 8 year period (24 hours x 7 days x 52 weeks x 8 years) is the same as it what it takes to just PRODUCT a LITHIUM replacement cell that would sit in such a vehicle.

Food for thought. I am heavily invested in AGY and other lithium players.. just wondering once Lithium mining, extraction, refinement, conversion and cell production gets into full swing - whether someone will take a closer look and see the environmental impacts compared to old school oil/fuel production and consumption.

This is just regurgitating what a so called expert discussed at the time, I am no means an expert in lithium production but it did leave me scratching my head after.

Anyways..