What is taking lithium so long?

Lithium: Good enough for Mars but not the streets of America?

According to NASA and JPL, lithium-ion batteries have proven to be extremely reliable and effective, and these batteries have helped the Mars Rover far exceed the expectations of many Rover engineers.

Entrepreneurs and backyard mechanics have converted conventional vehicles in to electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles into plug-in hybrid vehicles without the massive R&D budgets of the major automakers. Yet, all of the major automakers are years away from mass-producing lithium powered automobiles.

What's the problem? Does it all boil down to cost? Or, is it a lack of focus and innovation?

According to the History Channel, South Korea is expected to dominate lithium battery production in the very near future. Why?

Is America's poor education system, in particular, its lack of focus on science, math and engineering finally catching up to its ability to research and to develop new technologies? Does lithium, or the lack thereof, demonstrate the decline of the American Empire?