Correct. We need lithium batteries for lots of things, not everything can have an electric cord attached.
And in reality their are precious and rare metal mining locations in our country that would end dependency on foreign sources. BUT..and it's a big one... one site in the southwest that was a rare mineral mine site is a hideous poisonous site from the bowels of hell that was shut down and not cleaned up or something. Very great environmental caution is necessary. Its not just tree-hugger paranoia.