Fossil fuel is a non-renewable, finite resource. Li recycling technology has now achieved 99-100% recovery. Neon2 solar panels in Florida, and the lithium in spent batteries should not be given back to the Chinese for any reason.
The evidence says otherwise. Li, for your EV batteries, on the other hand, is a very limited resource. Add to that the samarium, gallium, neodymium and other rare earth elements that are used, and it is quite apparent that fossil fuels are far more plentiful than the materials for the batteries.