Stories impacting the global battery industry

February 2020

THE WEEKEND READ: BUILDING EUROPE’S BATTERY BUSINESS
www.pv-magazine.com

In just three years, Northvolt has progressed from a startup to become Europe’s response to the Asian dominance of global battery manufacturing. pv magazine investigates why Northvolt is setting up units in Sweden, Germany, and Poland, what the firm’s goals are, and how it is attempting to achieve them.



TIANQI LITHIUM'S PRELIM 2019 NET LOSS AT 2.8 BLN YUAN
sg.news.yahoo.com

Tianqi Lithium Corp SAYS PRELIM 2019 NET LOSS AT 2.8 BILLION YUAN VERSUS NET PROFIT OF 2.2 BILLION YUAN YEAR EARLIER.



CHINA'S CATL AIMS TO RAISE $2.85 BILLION FOR EV BATTERY PROJECTS
www.reuters.com

CATL, China’s top electric vehicle battery maker, said it aims to raise up to 20 billion yuan ($2.85 billion) in a private placement of shares to fund its battery projects and boost working capital.



TESLA'S MASSIVE 1GWH MEGAPACK BATTERY PROJECT WITH PG
electrek.co

Tesla’s massive project to deploy 1GWh of Megapacks to create a giant energy storage system in California with PG



CHINA BATTERY METALS, LITHIUM DEMAND TO INCREASE IN 2020 DESPITE CORONAVIRUS IMPACT: PLATTS SURVEY
www.spglobal.com

Lithium chemical market participants in China expect demand to increase this year. New Energy Vehicle market expected to grow despite impact of coronavirus on consumer behavior. Chinese government expected to continue policy on NEVs, unlikely to reintroduce subsidies. Battery grade lithium carbonate prices seen averaging Yuan 45,000-65,000/mt ($6,400-$9,250/mt) in 2020.



CHARGED UP: SINGAPORE'S JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE OF CARS BEGINS NOW
www.businesstimes.com.sg

The Singapore government is making a big push for electric vehicles (EV), which, at 1,125 cars on the road as of January 2020, make up fewer than 0.2 per cent of the current car population. To say it's a bold vision mapped out by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Budget speech on Tuesday is an understatement. But the newly-minted vision is certainly one that has gotten many climate change watchers excited. "This is the first time that EVs have been given so much air-time during a Budget Speech, and we take that as a positive sign that the government is aware of the potential for e-mobility in Singapore," Terence Siew, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Singapore (EVAS), tells The Business Times.



LITHIUM GIANT CUTS PRICES BUT SAYS BOTTOM IS IN SIGHT
www.afr.com

Lithium giant Albemarle has given customers on long-term contracts a 15 per cent price cut for lithium delivered in 2020, but still managed to ignite a rally in Australian lithium stocks by suggesting prices were starting to stabilise after a two-year slide. The surge in local lithium stocks came as Albemarle appeared to settle its transfer pricing dispute with the Australian Tax Office, and warned the coronavirus may delay construction of its $400 million lithium hydroxide plant at Kemerton in Australia's south-west. But a raft of mine curtailments over the past year, particularly in Western Australia, meant there would be very little supply growth this year, and Albemarle chief financial officer Scott Tozier said he believed demand growth would stabilise prices.



BHP JOINS RIO IN KEEPING CLOSE WATCH ON LITHIUM
www.livewiremarkets.com

The world’s biggest miner is keeping its eye on lithium, just as Rio Tinto is through its potential development of the Jadar lithium-borate project in Serbia. Given both of them have probably missed the boat, it does not really matter if they get into lithium or not. What is more important here is that there is an acknowledgement from the world’s biggest miners that lithium is a market they might need to be part of as demand and potential returns form “future facing” commodities start to leave the likes of coal and iron ore in the shade. BHP’s central case is that come 2025, EVs will account for close to 9% of global sales of light vehicles, up from 2.4% last year. By 2035, EVs could have a 30% share. It’s no wonder that BHP has lithium under watch.



CHINA CONSIDERS EXTENDING ELECTRIC-CAR SUBSIDIES AFTER SALES SLUMP
www.bloomberg.com

China may extend subsidies for electric-vehicle purchases beyond this year to revive sales in the world’s biggest market, people familiar with the matter said. Talks are at a preliminary stage and there is no guarantee the subsidies will be extended, the people said. As things stand, they are still set to be phased out at the end of 2020. China introduced EV subsidies a decade ago and they played a key role in turning the country into the top market globally.



MORE STUNNING HITS FOR LIONTOWN
www.ltresources.com.au

Spectacular lithium hits at Liontown Resources’ Kathleen Valley deposit of up to 5.7%, including a growing zone regularly grading better than 3%, provides further support for a proposed underground and open pit lithium mine. The latest hits from the RC program include 43m at 3.1% from 253m, with 21m at 3.8% and 1m at 5.7%; and 16m at 2.6% from 308m, including 13m at 3.1% - all outside the resource envelope. The hard rock deposit is already one of the largest in Australia based on a recently upgraded resource of 139 million tonnes 1.3%, but with ongoing drilling 150m to the north-west continuing to deliver better than 3% the potential for growth is obvious given the zone remains open.



EUROPE FLOORS IT IN THE RACE TO DOMINATE CAR BATTERIES
www.bloomberg.com

EV sales in Europe are expected to jump to 7.7 million in 2030 from just under half a million in 2019, according to forecasts from BloombergNEF. Those vehicles will mainly be powered by batteries from Asian manufacturers like CATL, unless European companies fight back and build a local supply chain. “If we let China own the battery, then we lose out on the centerpiece of electric cars,” says German Deputy Economy Minister Thomas Bareiss. “I’m not sure that’s the best approach for our auto industry.” Europe has only a patchwork of small battery players. The biggest chunk of the value of a European-made electric car belongs to Asia—China, Korea, and Japan account for more than 80% of the world’s EV battery production, and companies such as CATL, LG Chem, and Samsung SDI control Europe’s biggest battery factories.



WESFARMERS BOSS KEEPS THE FAITH IN STALLED LITHIUM PROJECT
www.afr.com

Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott says he remains very comfortable with the company’s investment in a stalled lithium project as low prices play havoc with the balance sheets of current producers. However, Mr Scott said it might take many years for Wesfarmers shareholders to see the full benefit of the lithium venture as had been the case with other big projects within the chemicals, energy and fertilisers division. Last month, the Perth-based conglomerate delayed a final investment decision on the Mt Holland lithium project, which includes building a 45,000-tonne-a-year lithium hydroxide plant, until the first quarter of calendar 2021.



FRANCE'S ERAMET FREEZES LITHIUM MINE PROJECT IN ARGENTINA
www.reuters.com

Eramet has postponed an Argentine lithium mine project aimed at shifting the group’s focus toward electric vehicle minerals, it said, citing economic and regulatory uncertainty in the debt-stricken South American country. The French company had been due to make a final investment decision on the project after giving initial approval last year for plans to start producing lithium from late 2021.



HYUNDAI AND KIA ENJOY 70% INCREASE IN EV SALES IN EUROPE IN JANUARY
www.businesskorea.co.kr

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors significantly ramped up sales of their electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe. Hyundai and Kia's EV sales in the European market in January stood at 6,083 units, up 71.3 percent from 3,552 units in January [2019], Hyundai and Kia said on Feb. 18.



GERMANY REVOLTS AGAINST DIESEL, PETROL CARS TO BECOME BIGGEST #EV MARKET IN EUROPE
thedriven.io

Germany is now the biggest buyer of electric vehicles in Europe, surpassing previous market leader Norway in raw numbers – if not market share – while the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicle fall. The nation saw a massive 60% increase in new sales of both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in 2019 compared to 2018, with 109,000 sales to 68,000 a year earlier. The increase in EV sales in Germany was reflected in the overall European market, which saw a 45% increase according to European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) figures. The surge in electric vehicle sales brings Europe’s average market share of electrics to new vehicle sales to 3.53%, and comes overall passenger car registrations fall across Europe – down 7.5% in 2019 compared to 2018.



SOLAR, WIND AND BATTERIES EXPECTED TO OUTPACE NEW GAS-POWERED GENERATION IN TEXAS
www.houstonchronicle.com

Texas is increasingly moving away from power generated by natural gas, the backbone of the state's electricity system and which supplies about half of the state's generating capacity. Solar power is emerging as the state's fastest growing electricity source, according to the state grid manager, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Solar developers are expected to install about 68 gigawatts of solar power capacity, representing 61 percent of the power projects expected to come on the grid between now and 2023. One gigawatt provides enough power for about 700,000 homes. Wind developers are expected to add 30 gigawatts of power or 27 percent of total new capacity in the next three years, according to ERCOT. Battery storage developers are on the books to generate 8 gigawatts or 7 percent of new capacity.



11% ELECTRIC VEHICLE SHARE IN FRANCE!
cleantechnica.com

The French plug-in passenger electric vehicle market broke all of its previous records in January, with all-electric models jumping 258% to 10,952 units and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles surging 238% to 3,813 registrations. Both powertrains beat their own previous bests, adding to a record 14,765 plug-in vehicle registrations.



BEIJING OUTLINES PLANS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY MORE IN 2020, USE MORE NEW ENERGY VEHICLES
uk.reuters.com

Beijing will cut smog levels further this year by putting more new energy vehicles (NEV) on its roads, reducing diesel-fuelled truck numbers and tightening its supervision of vehicle emissions and refined oil products, the city said on Thursday. The city said it aims to have 400,000 NEVs - plug-in hybrids, battery-only electric vehicles and those powered by hydrogen fuel cells - by the end of the year, up from the 225,000 on its roads at the end of 2018. It aims to speed up the elimination of high-emission cars and replace diesel-fuelled trucks with NEVs, which it will use for all its postal, intra-city delivery, environmental sanitation departments and for its airport and public bus systems.



GANFENG LITHIUM TO INCREASE BG LITHIUM HYDROXIDE PRICES BY UP TO 10%
www.metalbulletin.com

Chinese producer Ganfeng plans to increase its battery-grade lithium hydroxide prices by no more than 10% due to higher transportation fees and production costs resulting from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China, it said on Thursday February 13. Fastmarkets assessed the lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, ex-works, spot price at 52,000-57,000 yuan ($7,462-8,180) per tonne on Thursday February 6, unchanged since the start of 2020 due to reduced demand during the virus.



SHELL AGREES CHINA DEAL TO BOLSTER GREEN POWER IN UK
www.thetimes.co.uk

Royal Dutch Shell has thrown its weight behind a Chinese-backed energy storage venture building what is claimed to be Europe’s largest battery in Wiltshire. The Anglo-Dutch energy group will use a 100-megawatt battery near the village of Minety to provide back-up electricity to the National Grid when supplies of wind and solar power dip. The battery can be charged when electricity is cheap and then discharged at peak times when prices are high. The project has been bankrolled by CNIC, the Chinese investment fund, and China Huaneng Group, a state utility company that is also constructing the battery.



RIO TINTO JOINS IRON ORE MINING GIANTS MAKING BIG SWITCH TO SOLAR AND BATTERIES
reneweconomy.com.au

Mining giant Rio Tinto has become the latest major iron ore miner in West Australia’s Pilbara region to turn to renewables to lowest costs and cut emissions, announcing that a new solar farm and a lithium ion battery will supply all the daytime electricity needs and two thirds of the annual requirements of its new $2.6 billion Koodaideri project.



AGL SAYS BATTERIES AT TIPPING POINT, BUT RENEWABLES “CHOKED” BY CONNECTION WOES
reneweconomy.com.au

Australian energy utility AGL says the falling costs of battery storage puts the technology at a “tipping point” in the Australia market, but has warned that “only the best” large-scale renewable energy projects are likely to go ahead in coming years because of the increased costs and complexity around connections. CEO Brett Redman said the market for batteries is changing quickly, with prices coming down and the business case changing. He noted that early battery installations had grabbed a big share of the FCAS market (frequency control etc), but newer batteries will be involved in time shifting renewable output and arbitrage and will be competing with gas peaking plants. Redman also noted that big batteries were easier investments than pumped hydro – modular, quicker to build and a less convoluted process.



TESLA’S COMPETITORS PLAY CATCH-UP ON ELECTRIC BATTERIES
www.cnbc.com

The cylindrical cell battery packs Tesla uses in its electric cars dropped to $158.27 per kilowatt-hour last year, according to an EV battery research firm. That’s down by more than $100 per kWh from four years ago, Cairn Energy Research Advisors said. The type of battery packs used by other automakers cost, on average, more than $200 per kWh in 2019, according to Cairn.



INDIA’S LITHIUM-ION BATTERY IMPORTS INCREASE FOURFOLD IN TWO YEARS
www.pv-magazine-india.com

The number of lithium-ion batteries imported by India quadrupled to 713 million in the last fiscal year, from 175 million in 2016-17. In terms of value, imports more than tripled to $1.23 billion (Rs8,777 crore) in 2018-19 from $384 million two years earlier. Government thinktank NITI Aayog has sought cabinet approval for a proposal to subsidize investors setting up gigascale lithium-ion manufacturing facilities in India, with an eye on the electric vehicle market. If approved, the organization will invite bids to establish production lines over a decade which amount to 50 GWh of annual output capacity.



$11 MILLION ALLOCATED TO SCALE-UP BATTERY MANUFACTURE
www.manmonthly.com.au

Six projects will share in more than $11 million in funding to develop Australia’s critical minerals industry in order to scale-up the manufacture of battery technologies. The work is being funded via the CRC program. Successful projects include: $1.6 million to develop advanced, fast-charging nano-engineered batteries to power a new generation of trams. $2.5 million to develop a process to produce battery grade nickel and cobalt sulphates. $2.4 million to optimise processing of pyrite ore to produce battery grade cobalt and sulfur. $2.2 million to generate products such as cobalt salts and value added mixed-metal lithium ion battery precursors. $1.3 million to refine the critical mineral spodumene to produce lithium battery chemicals. $1.2 million to recover vanadium to 99.95% purity for vanadium redox battery applications.



BASF FURTHER INVESTS IN EUROPE TO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP POSITION FOR BATTERY MATERIALS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
www.basf.com

BASF is announcing a new battery materials production site in Schwarzheide, Germany, as part of its multi-step investment plan to support the European electric vehicle (EV) value chain. This state-of-the art plant will produce cathode active materials (CAM) with an initial capacity enabling the supply of around 400,000 full electric vehicles per year with BASF battery materials. The Schwarzheide plant’s modular design and infrastructure allows for the rapid scale-up of manufacturing capacities enabling BASF to meet increasing customer demand for the European EV market. The plant in Schwarzheide will use precursors (PCAM) from BASF’s previously announced plant in Harjavalta, Finland. Startup of the two plants is planned for 2022.



EXCLUSIVE: GERMANY'S VOLKSWAGEN AND DAIMLER PUSH FOR MORE 'SUSTAINABLE' CHILE LITHIUM
www.reuters.com

German automakers Volkswagen and Daimler have launched a study to push for more “sustainable” lithium mining in Chile, according to lobbyist filings reviewed by Reuters, a sign of growing supply chain concerns ahead of an expected electric vehicle boom. Pressure is mounting on German carmakers to fast-track production of electric vehicles to meet increasingly stringent European Union anti-pollution rules. Volkswagen alone has staked its future on a $91 billion plan to profitably mass-producing zero-emission vehicles. That push has prompted beefed-up scrutiny of mining practices around key metals such as cobalt, copper and lithium, all of which are predicted to see a spike in demand in coming years.



LOS ANGELES LANDS NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST ELECTRIC FIRE TRUCK
www.firehouse.com

Beginning next year, the Los Angeles Fire Department will become the first in North America to operate an electric apparatus. The department signed a deal to purchase the new electric fire engine from Austrian-based manufacturer Rosenbauer, the fire service announced Monday.



CORONAVIRUS COULD REDUCE CHINA’S BATTERY STORAGE PRODUCTION BY 10% IN 2020
www.mining.com

China’s battery storage production capacity could reduce by as much as 10% to 237 gigawatt-hour (GWh) in 2020 compared to the pre-coronavirus 2020 forecast, research firm Wood Mackenzie said in a note on Wednesday.



TOYOTA TO LAUNCH ELECTRIC CAR DESIGNED FOR EASY BATTERY RECYCLING
asia.nikkei.com

Toyota Motor is preparing to release a new ultracompact electric vehicle with a standardized battery that can be easily reused in homes. By the end of this year, the automaker aims to introduce the model designed for one or two people. The cars would be leased for several years, with scheduled battery checks over that time frame. Once a battery has deteriorated to a certain point, the company would replace it. But as even degraded batteries still hold a charge, they can be reused as storage batteries.



CHINA'S GREAT WALL MAY MAKE LITHIUM BATTERY FOR EVS IN INDIA
auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com

China's largest SUV manufacturer Great Wall Motors is gung-ho on its India prospects, where it will invest an estimated $1 billion in a phased manner for manufacturing of not just cars but also lithium-ion batteries in the future.



CHINA'S GANFENG TO TAKE CONTROL OF ARGENTINA LITHIUM PROJECT
www.reuters.com

China’s Ganfeng Lithium Co said on Friday it will take control of an Argentina lithium project it has been developing with Lithium Americas Corp, cementing its control over a key source of the white metal for electric vehicle batteries.



CHINA COULD OVERTAKE SOUTH KOREA IN TERMS OF GLOBAL LITHIUM-ION PATENT APPLICATIONS IN 2020.
pulsenews.co.kr

South Korea may fall behind China in lithium-ion battery as early as this year despite its heavy investments to groom the power for electric vehicles, smartphones and energy storage systems as future mainstay growth for the Korean, given the fast ascension of patents applied by Chinese innovators, according to a report from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). This analysis has grave implications to Korea, raising the need of a preemptive measure, said KIPO Commissioner Park Won-joo, suggesting that Korea should ward off competition from China by making headway in the field of solid-state battery and lithium metal electrodes, which are promising technology in next-generation battery science.



FOSSIL FUEL VEHICLES PLUMMET 40% IN SWEDEN AS EVS TRIPLE TO OVER 30% MARKET SHARE
cleantechnica.com

January saw fossil fuel passenger vehicle sales plummet in Sweden by almost 40% year on year, with diesels more than halved, as plug-in vehicle market share climbed to over 30%. Sweden’s auto industry organization expects 30% to be maintained through the full year of 2020.



BMW RAISES ELECTRIC CAR COMPONENTS CAPACITY AT BAVARIAN PLANT
www.reuters.com

BMW said on Thursday it is increasing production of electric vehicle powertrain components at its plant in Dingolfing, Bavaria, and raising its staff numbers to 1,400 this year, from 600 at present. Responding to tougher emissions rules and the threat of multi-million euro fines, carmakers are stepping up efforts to sell electric and hybrid cars. BMW aims for hybrid and electric cars to make up a quarter of new vehicle registrations by 2021.



STATE GOVERNMENT ROLLS OUT FIRST COMMUNITY BATTERY IN PERTH
www.miragenews.com

Ellenbrook residents can apply to take part in the PowerBank 2 trial, which will enable them to ‘virtually’ store excess energy generated from their solar panels in a 464kWh Tesla battery to use in the afternoon and evening peak time. Customers will be allocated 6kWH or 8kWh of virtual storage costing $1.60 or $1.90 a day.



ALSTOM TO DELIVER ITS FIRST BATTERY ELECTRIC TRAINS
insideevs.com

Alstom announced this month its first contract for battery-electric regional trains in Germany for the Leipzig-Chemnitz route, which requires the train to cover 80 km (50 miles) of non-electrified track. The company will deliver 11 Coradia Continental BEMU trains starting from 2023, which will be ready for the job, driving on its own power or using catenary to recharge. The deal, including maintenance until 2032, is worth approximately €100 million ($109 million).



THE HUMBLE URBAN GARBAGE TRUCK GETS A HIGH-TECH BATTERY MAKEOVER
www.bloomberg.com

Volvo and Daimler are working on variants to replace diesel. Short routes, frequent stops make haulers suitable for upgrade. Surprisingly, these hulking trucks offer some compelling advantages for electrification. Garbage vans typically follow regular daily routes that rarely exceed 60 miles (97 kilometers), easing range concerns. And with frequent stops, they return energy to the battery each time the driver hits the brakes.



TESLA CAN GET SUPPORT FOR GERMAN FACTORY: ECONOMY MINISTER
www.reuters.com

Tesla could get state subsidies in its plan to set up a gigafactory in Germany, the country’s economy minister told a weekly newspaper. “In my conversations with (Tesla CEO) Elon Musk I have always made clear that there are no privileges but also no discrimination,” Peter Altmaier told Welt am Sonntag in an interview. “Also, Germany has to be more than an extended workbench. There needs to be research and development, too. All companies that fulfill these criteria have a chance to be supported - including Tesla.”



JAGUAR HALTS ELECTRIC SUV OVER BATTERY SHORTAGES
www.thetimes.co.uk

Jaguar’s best-selling I-Pace electric car has a problem: it has run out of batteries. Jaguar is halting production of the £61,000 SUV at a factory in Graz, Austria, for a week from Monday next week because of a shortage of lithium-ion batteries. The I-Pace’s batteries are supplied by South Korean electronics giant LG Chem, which makes them at a factory in Wroclaw, Poland. Jaguar’s woes reflect car-makers’ struggles to meet surging demand for electric cars and slash emissions while relying on fragile supply chains.



KOREAN BATTERY MAKERS FORECAST BETTER 2020
www.koreaherald.com

All three South Korean lithium-ion battery makers saw alarming falls in their operating profits in 2019, but showed hopes that they could reap bigger profits from the growing electric vehicle battery market this year, according to the companies on Monday. “The battery unit attained a meaningful achievement in the fourth quarter, including reaching a break-even point,” said Cha Dong-seok, chief financial officer at LG Chem. Throughout last year, the battery business alone raised 8.35 trillion won in sales, rising from 6.5 trillion won in 2018 and 4.5 trillion won in 2017. Foreseeing growing demand from electric vehicle customers, LG projects its total sales to reach 35.3 trillion won this year, up 23.4 percent from last year. According to the Samsung affiliate’s forecasts, the electric vehicle battery market is expected to expand 55 percent to 176 gigawatt-hours in 2020. “SK Innovation aims to reach 2 trillion won in sales of the battery business this year,” said a company official during a conference call. “The battery unit would reach its break-even point in 2022 when the plants in the US, Hungary and China are in full operations with an aggregate capacity of 60GWh.”



UK NEW CAR MARKET FALLS -7.3% IN JANUARY, AS SECTOR DEMANDS CLEAR PLAN FOR 2035 AMBITION
www.smmt.co.uk

Registrations of battery electric cars continue to grow, with a year-on-year uplift of 2,720 units, as plug-in hybrids and hybrids also enjoy record demand. Industry calls for extensive package of incentives to accelerated match 2035 zero-emission transport ambitions – including long-term commitment to the Plug-in Car Grant.



TOYOTA-PANASONIC VENTURE TO START EV BATTERY DEVELOPMENT IN APRIL
uk.reuters.com

Toyota Motor Corp and Panasonic Corp have agreed to set up a joint venture that will begin developing electric vehicle (EV) batteries from April, as the Japanese companies gear up for an expected surge in demand. The new company, called Prime Planet Energy and Solutions, will develop prismatic - or square-shaped - batteries that will be available to any automaker, the two companies said in a statement on Monday. It will begin operations on April 1 with more than 5,000 employees, with Toyota owning 51% and Panasonic holding the remainder, the pair said.



RENAULT BATTERIES FIND ‘MEGAWATT-SCALE’ 2ND LIFE USE IN BELGIUM
www.energy-storage.news

An energy storage system made up of ‘second life’ batteries previously used in Renault’s electric vehicle (EV) has been deployed for Umicore, a multinational materials technology company headquartered in Belgium. Technology provider Connected Energy said that using EV battery packs as stationary energy storage systems (ESS) in this way can extend their lifetime by as much as seven years. The UK-headquartered company, based in England’s northeast automotive sector powerhouse, celebrated the inauguration of the Umicore project as its biggest to date at 1.2MW of output and 720kWh capacity.



PSA GROUP AND SAFT ANNOUNCE TWO EV BATTERY GIGAFACTORIES
insideevs-com.cdn.ampproject.org

French battery manufacturer Saft (part of Total since 2016) and the PSA Group (with its Opel brand) officially announced plans for two lithium-ion EV battery cell plants in Europe. The French-German alliance intends to establish a joint venture named Automotive Cell Company (ACC), with a total output of 48 GWh annually by 2030 (not as high as earlier rumors were suggesting - 64 GWh), through a €5 billion investment, supported by nearly €1.3 billion in public funding from the European Union.



ELECTRIC DREAM: BRITAIN TO BAN NEW PETROL AND HYBRID CARS FROM 2035
www.reuters.com

Britain will ban the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars from 2035, five years earlier than planned, in an attempt to reduce air pollution that could herald the end of over a century of reliance on the internal combustion engine.



from Twitter...
CEO BASF: "Electrification is good for chemical producers because...
twitter.com

@JoseLazuen: CEO BASF: "Electrification is good for chemical producers because the chemical content in an EV is value-wise much higher than in ICE today". @Roskill_Info estimates the market size of battery chemicals over US$200 billion by 2030.



We’ve committed 5,000 zero-emission buses over the next 5 years...
twitter.com

@cathmckenna: We’ve committed 5,000 zero-emission buses over the next 5 years, and it’s why all new public transit funding will be zero-emission options by 2023. We have the capacity and the know-how to build those electric buses rights here in Canada — a win-win!



Positive EV news out of China: MIIT to encourage lifting of number plate license quotas...
twitter.com

@robertbaylis: Positive EV news out of China: MIIT to encourage lifting of number plate license quotas; development of lithium-ion battery technology will be prioritized to consolidate competitive advantage; and, Chinese govt. will vigorously prop up NEV industry as a strategic sector.



Guoxuan LFP cell density already broke 200 Wh/kg in experimental phase...
twitter.com

@DKurac: Guoxuan LFP cell density already broke 200 Wh/kg in experimental phase, company said. Special additive in cathode making, improving carbon sources



Fantastic news out of California!..
twitter.com

@LivioFilice: Fantastic news out of California! CA to roll out $365 million Electric Vehicle charging program to support approx 8,500 med to high duty vehicles (bus, truck, etc.) ⚡️????????



Interesting on LFP batteries: BYD claims to have increased energy density by 50%...
twitter.com

@hjesanderson: Interesting on LFP batteries: BYD claims to have increased energy density by 50% compared to traditional LFP batteries, energy density to reach 180Wh/kg - reducing unit unit costs by 30%. Not good for cobalt and nickel.



Tesla will use prismatic battery cells for the first time in Model 3 short range for Chinese consumers...
twitter.com

@sdmoores: Tesla will use prismatic battery cells for the first time in Model 3 short range for Chinese consumers. This will be made using CATL LFP cells tailor made for Model 3. It’s the first time Tesla have expanded from cylindrical cells (18650 / 2170).



700 new charge points are being added a month [in the UK]...
twitter.com

@FullyChargedShw: 700 new charge points are being added a month [in the UK] - that's a lot of charge points.



Tesla using LFP for a new lower spec version of the Model 3 would be a big deal...
twitter.com

@JamesTFrith: Tesla using LFP for a new lower spec version of the Model 3 would be a big deal. 1) Prices would come down 2) Cycle life could go up 3) Driving range would go down 4) Acceleration could remain the same.



Electric cars threaten to pull the plug on petrol stations
twitter.com

A Boston Consulting Group study published last year found that at least a quarter of petrol stations worldwide risk closure by 2035 without significant changes to their business models. Under BCG’s most aggressive scenario, 80 per cent could shut.



US solar industry powers ahead as investors back batteries
twitter.com

Solar power is no longer confined to daylight hours. Thanks to a wave of investment, solar farms across the US are increasingly being built with industrial-scale battery packs on site so that noontime surpluses can be stored for release in the evening hours when people come home to switch on lights, appliances and air conditioners. Fund managers, power producers, utilities and energy-hungry tech companies are among those making big financial commitments to “solar-plus-storage” projects, introducing a helpful cushion for America’s finely balanced electricity markets and easing the way for a sharp rise in renewable generation.



Despite being one of the key enablers of the EV revolution as the world's largest supplier of lithium...
twitter.com

@batt_li: Despite being one of the key enablers of the EV revolution as the world's largest supplier of lithium, Australians pay almost 30% more than Americans for the world's most popular EV and 20% more than people in the UK. Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Performance default options FSD after savings (as estimated by Tesla website): ???????? AUD$88,890; ???????? AUD$90,804; ???????? AUD$95,769; ???????? AUD$109,147; ???????? AUD$115,039



EV batteries used in energy storage systems (pre and post use in car) is happening...
twitter.com

@hanseric: EV batteries used in energy storage systems (pre and post use in car) is happening at a much larger scale than what's previously being reported. The biggest hurdle is access to both used and new batteries. That will change very soon.



ASX: Kathleen Valley Lithium Resource hits 139Mt @ 1.3% Li2O...
twitter.com

@LiontownRes: ASX: Kathleen Valley Lithium Resource hits 139Mt @ 1.3% Li2O as latest drilling success underpins 86% increase. Continued resource growth confirms Kathleen Valley as a Tier-1 lithium deposit.



Battery output up 29% in 2019; Cathode production climbs 19%, while Anode up >40%...
twitter.com

@amiller_bmi: Battery output up 29% in 2019; Cathode production climbs 19%, while Anode up >40%. Meanwhile lithium prices down 40% yoy, cobalt down 30% and graphite down 27%. The disconnect is only increases risks of major auto OEM disruption as they push toward electric.



Key takeaways from Day 1 @Roskill_Info’s Lithium MtoM Perth conf...
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@robertbaylis: Key takeaways from Day 1 @Roskill_Info’s Lithium MtoM Perth conf.: ???????????????? surges but ???????? demand concerns; ???????? spod. conc. ✂️ helping to re-balance mkt. but a way to go; ???? symbiosis possible in WA, productivity will improve as ???????? industry matures; ???????? 2019 oversupply >60kt LCE



Mineral Resources keeps $610m Wodgina lithium mine in mothballs
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@HC_Haplo: Mineral Resources keeps $610m Wodgina lithium mine in mothballs



Watching how these relationship play out will be one of the most interesting trends of the electric vehicle revolution...
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Watching how these relationship play out will be one of the most interesting trends of the electric vehicle revolution. The slide below I presented in Warwick, UK on Monday.



French logistics company Chronopost is buying 420 electric delivery vans...
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@colinmckerrache: French logistics company Chronopost is buying 420 electric delivery vans. There are more and more of these fleet announcements coming in. The main thing holding the market back so far has been lack of supply, but that's starting to change.



Oil producer, Total is planning 48GWh of lithium ion battery capacity in Europe with @Saft_batteries by 2030...
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@sdmoores: Oil producer, Total is planning 48GWh of lithium ion battery capacity in Europe with @Saft_batteries by 2030. It’s to feed the @GroupePSA_EN / FCA electric vehicle roll out. 48GWh will make about 10% of vehicles PSA-FCA made last year... in 2030... gonna need more batteries.



Total’s new battery cell capacity in France and eventually Germany...
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@sdmoores: Total’s new battery cell capacity in France and eventually Germany takes @benchmarkmin European battery capacity assessment to 420GWh by 2030



EV sales in Europe are really picking up...
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@colinmckerrache: EV sales in Europe are really picking up. January share of sales at: Italy - 2.1%; Spain - 4.1%; Belgium - 5.5%; Denmark - 7%; Netherlands - 7.6%; France - 8.2%; Portugal - 11%; Sweden - 31%; Norway - 64%



EVs hit 6% of UK vehicle sales in January...
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@colinmckerrache: EVs hit 6% of UK vehicle sales in January. Big increase especially for battery electrics. Overall market down 7.3%.



I’m done with fossil fuels, they’re just done...
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@JimCramer: I’m done with fossil fuels, they’re just done. The honest truth is I don’t think I can help you make money in the oil and gas stocks anymore



"I think we are past peak ICE car in the US." - Aaron Cohen, @GM
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@albertwycheung: "I think we are past peak ICE car in the US." - Aaron Cohen, @GM



Lithium battery costs fell 87% in the last decade, exceeding even @BloombergNEF expectations...
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@MustriSharon: Lithium battery costs fell 87% in the last decade, exceeding even @BloombergNEF expectations. Can we get cheaper? Sure. Decreasing material costs and scrappage rates, coupled with more sustained innovation along the supply chain will be key.



3 of 8 super bowl car commercials tout all-electric models...
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@NatBullard: 3 of 8 super bowl car commercials tout all-electric models from @Porsche (the Taycan, in “The Heist”) @Audi (the E-Tron, in “Let It Go”), and @GMC (the Hummer, in “Quiet Revolution”).



Battery demand from transport to grow 19.5x over the next decade.
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@JamesTFrith: Battery demand from transport to grow 19.5x over the next decade.



Fast charging: 'miles added per minute' is increasingly the key metric for EV batteries.
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@albertwycheung: Fast charging: 'miles added per minute' is increasingly the key metric for EV batteries. 50 miles in 10 minutes is becoming the norm.



I think one look at Tesla's stock versus Exxon's says it all
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@jimcramer: I think one look at Tesla's stock versus Exxon's says it all



If there was any mistaking what year we have just entered, a glance at France's January passenger car registrations data...
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@auto_schmidt: If there was any mistaking what year we have just entered, a glance at France's January passenger car registrations data gives more than just a few pointers and why CO2 targets are likely to be achieved...



January BEV stats for France Market share 2019=2% 2020=8.2% !!!
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@backstroke_: January BEV stats for France Market share 2019=2% 2020=8.2% !!!



The 2020s will likely see a host of new countries attempt to establish lithium ion to EV supply chains...
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@RobertColbourn: The 2020s will likely see a host of new countries attempt to establish lithium ion to EV supply chains as decarbonisation and pollution becomes a bigger issue. India is a prime example of this.



@BASF applied for approval for its cathode plant in Schwarzheide, Germany.
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@LedouxPedailles: @BASF applied for approval for its cathode plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. The company plans to commission the 24,000tpy cathode plant in March 2022 and will invest close to €500M. Another good news for the European lithium-ion battery supply chain.



Lithium ion Battery Plants in the pipeline to 2030: 115. Total Capacity: 2213.5GWh...
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@sdmoores: Lithium ion Battery Plants in the pipeline to 2030: 115. Total Capacity: 2213.5GWh. A reminder you can view their high level numbers for free on our website.



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