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Monday, November 30, 2009
Mass market for EVs: Electrification coalition. TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, RM.v, LI.v, SQM, ROC, FMC, AVL.to, RES.v, QUC.v, F, NSANY, RNO, DAI, BMW, BYDDY,
0 comments Posted by andre at 6:37 PM
"Nissan Electric Leaf on the roads and GM Volt delivered on time will bring that necessary macro catalyst for market perception shift, when people will realise that Electric Cars are for real this time and this news from Detroit are very encouraging.
We will give another "Big IF" today - what if people will decide that it is just Cool not to kill environment any more? All articles about Electric Cars polluting more then conventional ones are showing us the pain of change and that we are on the right way and it is serious to consider as a threat to conventional wisdom."
We will give another "Big IF" today - what if people will decide that it is just Cool not to kill environment any more? All articles about Electric Cars polluting more then conventional ones are showing us the pain of change and that we are on the right way and it is serious to consider as a threat to conventional wisdom."
"Electrification of our transport sector is, of course, not just a major step forward in our effort to decarbonize American society, it means much more in terms of the enhancement of national security and the preservation of national wealth."
David W. Crane President & CEO, NRG Energy, Inc.Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works October 28, 2009
David W. Crane President & CEO, NRG Energy, Inc.Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works October 28, 2009
The Electrification Coalition is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit group of business leaders committed to promoting policies and actions that facilitate the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale in order to combat the economic, environmental, and national security dangers caused by our nation’s dependence on petroleum.
The Coalition’s primary mission will be to promote the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale through a wide variety of policies and actions, including the creation of electrification ‘ecosystems,’ limited geographic areas where electrified vehicles and infrastructure can be introduced so the concept can take root and grow.
Electrification of transportation would allow cars and light trucks to run on energy produced by a diverse set of sources: nuclear, natural gas, coal, wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric. In the process, electrification would shatter the status of oil as the sole fuel of the U.S. ground transportation fleet. In short, electrification is the best path to the fuel diversity that is indispensable to improving the nation’s economic strength, environmental health, and national security.
But electrification at a mass scale presents complex challenges that must be analyzed and solved if policymakers are to act. The individual elements of an electrified transportation system—cars, batteries, recharging infrastructure—make up a highly-integrated system, in which every part depends on the other. We would see few results if we began selling batteries in the Northeast, created a smart grid and expanded recharging infrastructure in the Northwest, and introduced more electric cars in the deep South.
In November 2009, the Coalition released its Electrification Roadmap, a sweeping report outlining a vision for the deployment of a fully integrated electric drive network. The report details the dangers of oil dependence, explains the benefits of electrification, describes the challenges facing electric cars—including battery technology and cost, infrastructure financing, regulatory requirements, electric power sector interface, and consumer acceptance issues—and provides specific and detailed policy proposals to overcome those challenges."
The Coalition’s primary mission will be to promote the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale through a wide variety of policies and actions, including the creation of electrification ‘ecosystems,’ limited geographic areas where electrified vehicles and infrastructure can be introduced so the concept can take root and grow.
Electrification of transportation would allow cars and light trucks to run on energy produced by a diverse set of sources: nuclear, natural gas, coal, wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric. In the process, electrification would shatter the status of oil as the sole fuel of the U.S. ground transportation fleet. In short, electrification is the best path to the fuel diversity that is indispensable to improving the nation’s economic strength, environmental health, and national security.
But electrification at a mass scale presents complex challenges that must be analyzed and solved if policymakers are to act. The individual elements of an electrified transportation system—cars, batteries, recharging infrastructure—make up a highly-integrated system, in which every part depends on the other. We would see few results if we began selling batteries in the Northeast, created a smart grid and expanded recharging infrastructure in the Northwest, and introduced more electric cars in the deep South.
In November 2009, the Coalition released its Electrification Roadmap, a sweeping report outlining a vision for the deployment of a fully integrated electric drive network. The report details the dangers of oil dependence, explains the benefits of electrification, describes the challenges facing electric cars—including battery technology and cost, infrastructure financing, regulatory requirements, electric power sector interface, and consumer acceptance issues—and provides specific and detailed policy proposals to overcome those challenges."
Lithium and REE:Carmakers race to secure electric lead TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, LI.v, RM.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, ORE.ax, AVL.to, RES.v, QUC.v, NSANY, RNO
0 comments Posted by andre at 6:01 PM
For places like China and India Electric Cars could be the only solution to reach the level of mobility per population close to one in the West. It is not now the question if, but rather how fast will it happen. Talking about China - it became the biggest auto market in the world earlier this year and Warren Buffett is making headlines with his prediction for Electric Cars recently.
"BYD: "Build Your Dreams" - founder takes it quite literally and made his fortune already even without selling very many Electric Cars yet. One thing is to get Warren Buffett to advertise your product and another one is for Buffett to proclaim: "In 20 years, all cars on the road will be electric". China, Buffett and Electric Cars - what else do we need to start a new Trend?"
"Financial Times
By John Reed
Published: December 1 2009 02:00 Last updated: December 1 2009 02:00
Snub-nosed and squat, with a no-frills, cramped cabin, the little Peugeot Ion is unlikely to win any design awards. But if current industry trends continue, it may one day be remembered as a trailblazer of zero-emission cars.
Road transport currently accounts for about 10 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, compared with about 3 per cent each for shipping and aviation. In Europe, the figure is 15 per cent.
Governments around the world are seeking to tackle the problem by introducing increasingly stringent regulations covering vehicle emissions.
In response, and also in reaction to volatile oil prices and advances in car batteries, the big players in the motor industry are embracing electrification.
"The regulatory environment in the US, Europe, Japan and possibly China will be such that it will be almost impossible for automakers to ignore electrification in their vehicles," said Rod Lache, managing director with Deutsche Bank Securities in New York.
Yet with millions of first-time car buyers entering the market in China, India and elsewhere, environmental advocates say carmakers' greenhouse-gas emission cuts will need to be even more aggressive, just to keep up with the growing number of vehicles.
"If the car sector is to keep pace, you are looking at annual emissions reductions of 5 per cent," said Jos Dings, director of Transport & Environment, a Brussels-based pressure group.
In 2008, according to the group, carmakers cut their fleets' average carbon dioxide emissions in Europe by 3.3 per cent.
In London last week, PSA Peugeot Citroen demonstrated for the first time Peugeot's plug-in Ion and its sister brand's Citroen C-Zero. The cars can drive 130km on a single electric charge. At the launch, the French carmaker vowed to become the first to market with a full range of electric vehicles in Europe next year.
If so, it will beat its arch-rival Renault, whose chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, is staking his reputation on the success of four planned electric models launching in 2011-12. General Motors and BMW intend to demonstrate their latest electric models this month.
But carmakers and government regulators are also grappling with unattractive economics. Early electric models will be expensive because of their small sales volumes and high battery costs. Car buyers - however green-minded they profess to be - have historically been unwilling to pay a premium for a cleaner car.
"It's a vicious circle," said Guillaume Faury, Pegueot's head of manufacturing and components. "If we don't have the volume, we don't have the low cost; if we don't have the low cost, we don't have the volume."
The company is not discussing the price of its two forthcoming electric cars, except to say that they will have similar lifetime running costs to conventional ones. It is studying a plan to charge customers a low up-front price supplemented by monthly payments.
Tellingly, its sales projections are modest: Peugeot thinks it will sell 25,000 units a year of the two models by 2015.
The carmaker, like others, thinks more people will buy two planned forthcoming hybrids it is launching in 2011-12 which, like others, will have a combustion engine on board and so have a longer driving range.
Peugeot was a pioneer in producing earlier-generation electric cars, about 10,000 of which it sold between 1995 and 2005.
About half are still on the road, but the vehicles failed to achieve wider popularity because of performance drawbacks linked to their limited batteries and a dearth of places to recharge them.
New lithium-ion batteries, which will deliver longer driving ranges, are the second factor powering the new generation of plug-in hybrid and electric cars
To encourage more people to buy such vehicles, the UK will offer tax breaks of up to £5,000 ($8,200, €5,470) from 2011. The US plans a tax credit of $7,500 (€5,000, £4,570) for electric cars and France already offers a similar-sized tax rebate for ultra-low emission cars.
Most industry players are also pursuing a wide range of less eye-catching technologies to cut emissions, from smaller engines to improved aerodynamics, use of lighter materials, and "stop-start" systems that switch engines off when cars are stopped in traffic.
Industry analysts give warning, however, that customers might abandon rechargeable cars when the hefty tax incentives for them expire, as many US drivers did when early incentives for hybrids such as the Toyota Prius ran out.
"If we want this technology to be successful, we need incentives in place at the very beginning," said Mr Faury.
His company, Peugeot, says falling battery costs will help carmakers cope as tax breaks are phased out."
Lithium and REE: BMW plans electric car. TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, LI.v, RM.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, AVL.to, RES.v, QUC.v, BMW, NSANY, BYDDY, RNO, DAI, F,
0 comments Posted by andre at 3:07 PM
Big names and big Brands are piling into electric car space defining the Trend. In case of BYD, one can argue, that auto maker will need to build its authority and brand recognition in the West before wide spread adoption, BMW already means dynamic, safety and coolness of an iconic auto brand and its move into full electric space will be a very important message on a part of established auto makers.
"We have Warren Buffet, James Dines and Jay Taylor on board, now we have the range to cure "Range Anxiety" with Electric Cars. What else do we need for our Next Big Thing to happen? Time is to look for Lithium and REE Supply."
November 30, 4:25 AM
Cheryl Phillips
BMW has believed for years that more efficient gasoline or diesel models were a better bet than hybrid cars. However, as the possibility of the hybrid giving way to the all-electric vehicle, German automaker BMW wants to be the leader. BMW is spending more than $1 billion to develop a small car for urban drivers that will include an electric-powered version.
To test the idea and the interest, BMW is leasing 500 Mini sedans that have been modified to run on batteries. These leases will take place in New York and Los Angeles.
Who would be willing to pay a premium for a vehicle that can travel only 150 miles between charges? BMW says it had no trouble finding customers eager to shell out $850 a month to lease the modified Minis, even though the cars seat only two because batteries displace the rear seats. Driving an electric mini BMW is like driving in the future, so people are willing to pay the price.
BMW is counting on the fact that the consumers with fat wallets and impeccable taste will have no problem shelling out extra money to dirve a battery-operated BMW. The prestigious BMW name would be strong competition for Mitsubishi, Renault, and General Motors, who also plan to make battery-powered vehicles.
The electric BMW may be a ways off but chances are if BMW hits the showroom floor with an electric mini car, there will be many willing to pay the price for a hip car with an upscale brand name."
To test the idea and the interest, BMW is leasing 500 Mini sedans that have been modified to run on batteries. These leases will take place in New York and Los Angeles.
Who would be willing to pay a premium for a vehicle that can travel only 150 miles between charges? BMW says it had no trouble finding customers eager to shell out $850 a month to lease the modified Minis, even though the cars seat only two because batteries displace the rear seats. Driving an electric mini BMW is like driving in the future, so people are willing to pay the price.
BMW is counting on the fact that the consumers with fat wallets and impeccable taste will have no problem shelling out extra money to dirve a battery-operated BMW. The prestigious BMW name would be strong competition for Mitsubishi, Renault, and General Motors, who also plan to make battery-powered vehicles.
The electric BMW may be a ways off but chances are if BMW hits the showroom floor with an electric mini car, there will be many willing to pay the price for a hip car with an upscale brand name."
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Nissan: The new lithium battery will be able to power an electric vehicle for 300 kilometers TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, RM.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, NSANY
0 comments Posted by andre at 5:20 AM
"One thing is to get Warren Buffett to advertise your product and another one is for Buffett to proclaim: "In 20 years, all cars on the road will be electric". China, Buffett and Electric Cars - what else do we need to start a new Trend?"
We have Warren Buffet, James Dines and Jay Taylor on board, now we have the range to cure "Range Anxiety" with Electric Cars. What else do we need for our Next Big Thing to happen? Time is to look for Lithium and REE Supply.
Bloomberg
"Nissan Electric Car Battery May Be Ready by 2015, Nikkei Says
Nov. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Nissan Motor Co. is developing a lithium ion battery for electric vehicles that can store electricity at double the current capacity, the Nikkei newspaper reported, without saying where it got the information. Nissan aims to equip electric cars with the battery by 2015, the paper reported.
The new battery will be able to power an electric vehicle for 300 kilometers (186 miles) on a single charge, about twice the distance currently possible, the newspaper said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Keiko Ujikane in Tokyo at kujikane@bloomberg.net"
Warren Buffett: In 20 years, all cars on the road will be electric TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, AVL.to, RES.v, QUC.v, F, NSANY, RNO, BYDDY
0 comments Posted by andre at 3:48 AM
"Something is telling us that we are close to the right Time again, like Warren Buffett was spot on the money last Fall buying into BYD with 250 million and now, one year after and almost an eternity passed in investment world of a slow motion crash video, he is sitting on 1 billion stake in the company and has made BYD founder the China's richest person along the way. This something could be the coming Copenhagen Climate Change conference or Nissan Electric Leaf on North American Tour or even this article about GM Volt anxious to be on time on the road."
BYD: "Build Your Dreams" - founder takes it quite literally and made his fortune already even without selling very many Electric Cars yet. One thing is to get Warren Buffett to advertise your product and another one is for Buffett to proclaim: "In 20 years, all cars on the road will be electric". China, Buffett and Electric Cars - what else do we need to start a new Trend? Bill Gates could help and Google guys are backing Aptera already...Jim Dines is all over it on Supply side with Rare Earth Elements and worries about Lithium oversupply will be blown away with every Electric Car sold. Maestro is giving us the most aggressive timing we ever heard or dreamed about rate of Electric Cars adoption - it is our "Big IF" in action.
"Time is always an essence, we can not afford to live a life of an artist, when she will be admired long time after her time. Money as all particles, which come and go, have a dual nature inhibited in their reality: Money love to test your patience as much as they are impatient themselves. They refuse to grow without a catalyst, even in the most fertile environment. They are always searching for the Trend: they like to come early and enjoy when others will be piling in."
More on BYD.
Warren Buffet here is even more aggressive then Nissan in their estimations: Bloomberg Nissan, FedEx Seek Electric-Car Target of 200 Million and now you can put your own figures on Lithium Demand side to that picture.
Omaha.com
Published Sunday November 29, 2009By Steve Jordon
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
In 20 years, all cars on the road will be electric, Warren Buffett told college students visiting Omaha recently.
The Houston Chronicle reported that Jan Goetgeluk, president of the finance club at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, asked what Buffett thought of the “peak oil theory,” the projection that oil production is at or near its peak and will decline rapidly.
Goetgeluk also asked Buffett what would replace carbon fuel.
Buffett made the all-electric prediction and said his investment in the Chinese battery and auto company BYD is working on technology to make the all-electric auto fleet happen. BYD founder Wang Chuanfu, Buffett said, is a genius.
Buffett also admitted an investment mistake when it came to BYD — namely, that his investment company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., bought only 10 percent of BYD. Berkshire should have bought 20 percent, Buffett said.
Todd Finkle, a former Omahan who heads Akron University’s entrepreneurship program and brought a group of Ohio students, said Buffett also expects high-speed trains in the United States.
In a question-and-answer session and informally over lunch, Buffett discussed a wide range of topics.
He said the United States still will be the leading economy in 25 years, but by a narrower margin. Success by emerging countries such as China is OK, because growth in their economies helps the U.S. economy, too, he said.
Buffett said his sessions with students are similar to the classes Benjamin Graham taught at Columbia University in the 1950s. Graham taught one class a year and donated his salary to the school.
Buffett said he wants business students to know that ethics and hard work are the most important things, and that people have a responsibility to try to improve society and help other people.
“He’s kind of our idol,” Goetgeluk said. “It’s always interesting to get perspective from the most successful investor in the world.”
The Houston Chronicle reported that Jan Goetgeluk, president of the finance club at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, asked what Buffett thought of the “peak oil theory,” the projection that oil production is at or near its peak and will decline rapidly.
Goetgeluk also asked Buffett what would replace carbon fuel.
Buffett made the all-electric prediction and said his investment in the Chinese battery and auto company BYD is working on technology to make the all-electric auto fleet happen. BYD founder Wang Chuanfu, Buffett said, is a genius.
Buffett also admitted an investment mistake when it came to BYD — namely, that his investment company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., bought only 10 percent of BYD. Berkshire should have bought 20 percent, Buffett said.
Todd Finkle, a former Omahan who heads Akron University’s entrepreneurship program and brought a group of Ohio students, said Buffett also expects high-speed trains in the United States.
In a question-and-answer session and informally over lunch, Buffett discussed a wide range of topics.
He said the United States still will be the leading economy in 25 years, but by a narrower margin. Success by emerging countries such as China is OK, because growth in their economies helps the U.S. economy, too, he said.
Buffett said his sessions with students are similar to the classes Benjamin Graham taught at Columbia University in the 1950s. Graham taught one class a year and donated his salary to the school.
Buffett said he wants business students to know that ethics and hard work are the most important things, and that people have a responsibility to try to improve society and help other people.
“He’s kind of our idol,” Goetgeluk said. “It’s always interesting to get perspective from the most successful investor in the world.”
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Electric cars: GM goes at 'warp speed' to meet Volt deadline TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, RM.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, AVL.to, RES.v. QUC.v, NSANY, BYDDY
0 comments Posted by andre at 5:02 AM
Lithium and REE Investment Manifesto and Next Big Thing in action:
San Francisco notes.
CS. "Risk comes when you do not know what you are doing" - Warren Buffett says and he knows thing or two about investing.
(S. - Interesting thing: we wrote this piece on November 28th and on November 29th Warren Buffett remark on EVs was published: In 20 years, all cars on the road will be electric, Warren Buffett told college students visiting Omaha recently.)
Do not trust anybody and do not let other people to make investment decisions for you - this what life has taught us. Kick the tires and relax with our investment approach: nobody to blame - you are in charge. That is why you can never find any investment advice on this website, any solicitation to buy or sell particular stock, but only our shared map and travelling experience.
Time for us is to hit the road and meet people who are followed by others, whose opinion is valued by fellow brothers - investment crowd. Time is always an essence, we can not afford to live a life of an artist, when she will be admired long time after her time. Money as all particles, which come and go, have a dual nature inhibited in their reality: Money love to test your patience as much as they are impatient themselves. They refuse to grow without a catalyst, even in the most fertile environment. They are always searching for the Trend: they like to come early and enjoy when others will be piling in.
Here we must share another secret tool and a big hope from quantum physics: enough attention and Intention could create particle itself in the space continuum. If it could happen with the money as well - we must be very close to it on this blog, on another hand you should never underestimate Lithium contamination in our morning coffee.
Something is telling us that we are close to the right Time again, like Warren Buffett was spot on the money last Fall buying into BYD with 250 million and now, one year after and almost an eternity passed in investment world of slow motion crash video, he is sitting on 1 billion stake in the company and has made BYD founder the China's richest person along the way. This something could be coming Copenhagen Climate Change conference or Nissan Electric Leaf on North American Tour or even this article about GM Volt anxious to be on time on the road.
Time is to test our Trend and Next Big Thing: Exploiting Chaos by Jeremy Gutsche could be your guide as well: just brilliant - full stop. "Disney, CNN, MTV, Hyatt, Burger King, FedEx, Microsoft, Apple, Gillette, AT&T, Texas Instruments, 20th Century Fox, IBM, Merck, Hershey’s, IHOP, Eli Lilly, Coors, Bristol-Myers, Sun, Amgen, The Jim Henson Company, LexisNexis, Autodesk, Adobe, Symantec, Electronic Arts, Fortune, GE, and Hewlett-Packard. These iconic companies were all founded during periods of economic recession. Dramatic change and simple evolution give birth to a new set of market needs. Identify those needs and enjoy remarkable success" - reminds us author and we are in the same Vibe. Early this year we refused to get into our cave with all gold and silver accumulated just to watch the world coming to its end. We have found our Next Big Thing and Bull market and we are riding it from there.
In order to grasp the idea where are we going we should share where from we are coming. We call it the "Big IF" theory - some people afraid of it, we are searching for this situations as catalyst for value creation and Trend starters. To get it right you need to be in the same Vibe: La Roux "Quicksand" will be a good start - it needs to be romantic and electric at the same time for a start, followed by Black Eyed Peas "The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies)" - we will need energy, a lot of it to make our dreams happen. Now we can get into more intensive message mode to lay out our travelling map to the Next Big Thing.
- "Big IF" was in Gold in 2002, later in gold Majors and now in gold Juniors.
- "Big IF" was in Tenke Mining with war in Congo and almost 4% grade Copper in the ground spiced by Cobalt, war was over and stock ride was impressive from below 0.9CAD to over 20.o CAD.
- "Big IF" was in Silver Standard Resources when they were buying all they can with silver in the ground, when silver was below 7 USD/oz and stock below 5, buy 2007 it was over 40 USD.
- "Big IF" was in Sterling Mining, when legendary Sunshine mine could not save people from corrupt decisions and company was driven into the ground - a very good reminder to keep your eyes on the ball once it in play.
- "Big IF" was in our waiting for the Big Disaster to happen from 2006, when our PUTs were bleeding all the way up with the market, who knows no mercy even to the people with a common sense, but on the wrong side of the trade. Juniors in Gold and Silver made our insurance payments for PUTs on Tech, Home builders and Banks barely noticeable. We had our fun with Google and its valuation, money was made, money was lost - company has defined all laws of gravity. "Big IF" happened and Big Disaster last Fall has driven Google to the low of 250, it allowed us to take profit with other PUTs and embrace our Next Big Thing few months later. Disaster effect was different then we anticipated: "It was a long year for this company and it passed so fast...One year ago bottom fell out of all Junior mining sector: US Dollar, contrary to expectations, did not collapse with the financial system, but performed for the last time its "Safe Heaven" status. A lot of good people were wipe out from investment surface." We have survived, but do not like just to retire on our holdings of Gold and Silver juniors - even more strange thing happen: we have become bullish and ask "What IF?" again.
Google? - we are in love with the company, yes - we visited the campus, yes - they made it possible to invest with information at our fingertips, when potential fraud could be exposed and questions asked before it happen even with some Lithium plays build on Hype part of the story. But we are not bullish on Google now, we have found another new and coming Thing.
- "Big IF" was in 2003 when James Dines pronounced bull market in Uranium and we made an easy killing on basket of Uranium Junior miners, some of them going from low 0.2 to over 1.0 AUD on Chinese money coming into the sector in less then a year. James Dines is in the picture again and this May he moved the REE market with value doubled and tripled with his announcement of the first Major Bull market after 2003 Uranium call in Rare Earth Elements. It will be our first take out from San Francisco Hard Assets conference last week - meeting hall was full of crowd and Master energised by attention proclaimed:
In 70s he told to his followers Buy Gold and he was a Gold Bug. He was stared down but refused to retreat. (This phrase followed every of his bullish calls.)
In 80s he told to Buy China and he was China Bug. He was...you know what happen next.
In 1997 he told to Buy Internet and he was an Internet Bug.
In 1999 he told to sell Internet stocks.
He told that it will be era of raw materials in 2000.
2002 he announced Uranium Super Bull.
2005 he told Sell Real Estate.
In November 2008 he told that it is Not the End of the world and mining stocks will double again.
In May 2009 he told about coming Buying Panic in Rare Earth Elements, announced Super Major Bull market in REE and became a Rare Earth Bug. They (REE) will be on front pages and Goldman Sachs owns Molycorp - private company which owns last past producing mine in USA. (We did not verify this information.)
- James Dines, John Kaiser and Jack Lifton are all extremely bullish on Rare Earth Elements and Jay Taylor has picked up recently TNR Gold / International Lithium for his Watch List. James Dines called it "The One Best Area to Buy Now", John Kaiser worried about "Security of Supply in a Changing World" and Jack Lifton reported on "In 2010 What will be the Best Plays in Rare Earths for Small Investors As Well As Large". Reasons sighted are the same as we have discussed before here:
China controls more then 97% of the market now.
By 2014 China will consume everything that will be produced in REE space.
All other REE metrics like 36 kg of REE in every Prius and 300kg of Rare Earth magnets per 1 mW of Wind Tubines.
- With Lithium picture was more muted and we found that a lot of analyst and letter writers are out of the picture on technological advance and recent developments in Lithium-ion battery space and are taking figures from TRU that stated that all current producers will easily meet Demand in years to come. Apart from cynical observation that they could be paid up by SQM, FMC and ROC, who do not like to change their cosy environment, we must state that here is the place for our "Big IF":
- What IF? Nissan is right about: "Bloomberg Nissan, FedEx Seek Electric-Car Target of 200 Million"
- What IF? Our Lithium Demand model is right and price will double?
- What IF? Peak oil is already here?
- General public is very interested, but definitely lack the knowledge of technological advance in Electric cars and lithium-ion batteries, too many technical details about Lithium brines and hard rock deposits are not helping and story is not as beaten down for average investor as we thought before. Grandmother has not invested yet, we are still in Stage two of the Bull market. Gold and Silver was around for 5000 years and only now public is allocating some portion of their portfolio and still thinks whether it will stay above 1000 USD/oz. With technological metals we need a shift in perception of value and that Electric Cars are serious this time. And it is coming fast with billions invested in Lithium-ion technology and Electric Cars and you are welcome explore it here on this blog. For those interested we will provide a a few important mile stones for your DD:
Where and how to invest? Here is where you have to make a decision. You will find a number of Investment Research notes in links provided. Basket of Lithium and REE plays could be a good thing for a start. Be careful with very small companies just coming in with one or two projects in the very early stage. On another hand big ones - Majors like SQM, FMC and ROC are only part Lithium play with 15-20% of revenue related to this product. We have never seen Steve Jobs talking about Zune (have you ever seen this thing?) and there are rumours that Bill Gates does not allow iPhones and iPods on his grounds. With Canadian stock exchange rules we must be explicitly accurate and will state one more time: do not take, please, anything as an investment advise and/or solicitation to buy any particular stock, but for us our heart is where our money now. Our "Big IF" on a company level in our Bull is whether Gary Schellenberg from TNR Gold was able to buy at rock bottom prices the right properties in Lithium and REE before market recognition of this bull and as COO of the company Mike Sieb stated in his interview for Jay Taylor's Watch List multiple projects of brines and hard rock properties provide the most risk balanced approach for value building from historical results and into confirmation of economic potential. International Lithium spin out from TNR Gold will provide another catalyst on a company level.
Nissan Electric Leaf on the roads and GM Volt delivered on time will bring that necessary macro catalyst for market perception shift, when people will realise that Electric Cars are for real this time and this news from Detroit are very encouraging.
We will give another "Big IF" today - what if people will decide that it is just Cool not to kill environment any more? All articles about Electric Cars polluting more then conventional ones are showing us the pain of change and that we are on the right way and it is serious to consider as a threat to conventional wisdom.
"How it Works
Anyone who read the earlier article about the Chevy Volt, or who is following all the talk of future propulsion around the Detroit auto show this week, might reasonably be a little confused as to what is or isn't an electric car by now.
'Pure' electric cars, such as the original GM Saturn EV1, or the forthcoming Tesla Roadster are driven by an electric motor that is fed by batteries charged up from mains electricity (they are plugged in). A 'hybrid' electric car, such as Toyota's Prius, is a car which uses two forms of propulsion - in the case of the Toyota, a small petrol engine coupled to an electric motor.
The Volt is a hybrid too, but of a different kind. Like the Prius it has a petrol internal combustion engine, an electric motor and a set of batteries. Here the similarities end. In the diagram, I've tried to clearly identify the major aspects of the Volt's drive train. It works thus:
1 – Car is ‘plugged-in’ (orange) to mains electricity, this charges up the battery pack (blue).
2 - Battery pack (blue) provides energy to drive electric motor (red), which turns the wheels.
3 - For 45 miles (approx) of driving after each charge, car works solely thus, until the batteries (blue) reach a certain level of ‘discharge’.
4 - At this point, a small, petrol internal combustion engine (yellow) starts. Unlike a normal internal combustion engine car, or indeed the Prius hybrid, this petrol engine cannot drive the wheels. Instead, it drives an on board generator (green) to continue to power the electric motor (red), which continues to provide drive to the wheels.
5 - When mains electricity is available again, car is plugged in once again (orange), to charge the batteries (blue), and the process starts over again.
This sounds quite complicated, and in a way it is. Critics, particularly fans of pure electric cars will point out that this is a very complex system, using more than one engine, which fundamentally still uses petroleum. Although this is true, the Volt could provide a realistic way forward, at least in the medium term, for two reasons:
• The primary concern (according to the auto makers) of most people about electric cars is the limits of their range. Lithium-Ion batteries as used in the Volt have good range properties, to the point that the Tesla roadster (which uses the same kind of batteries, albeit a lot more of them than the Volt) claims to get 250 miles off one 3-hour recharge. The problem is that, good though this is, it still precludes people from embarking on that great American road trip. The Volt's small internal combustion engine and generator basically provide it with unlimited range. Like current cars, one simply keeps filling up with petrol until mains electricity becomes available again to recharge. This ‘compromise’ smooths the path for people to adopt vehicles that they become used to plugging in, whilst allowing them to continue to use their car as they do currently.
• Secondly, the car functions purely on its battery and electric motor combination for the first 45 or so miles after each recharge. According to GM, that means that in this mode alone, the car should meet the needs of 78 percent of people - the average American drives only 29 miles each day. Therefore, assuming that one is able to plug the thing in each night, many people might find themselves never having to put petrol in their Volt.
As a road map to the future, the Volt therefore makes a lot of sense, not just for America, but potentially, more densely populated and urban Europe."
Anyone who read the earlier article about the Chevy Volt, or who is following all the talk of future propulsion around the Detroit auto show this week, might reasonably be a little confused as to what is or isn't an electric car by now.
'Pure' electric cars, such as the original GM Saturn EV1, or the forthcoming Tesla Roadster are driven by an electric motor that is fed by batteries charged up from mains electricity (they are plugged in). A 'hybrid' electric car, such as Toyota's Prius, is a car which uses two forms of propulsion - in the case of the Toyota, a small petrol engine coupled to an electric motor.
The Volt is a hybrid too, but of a different kind. Like the Prius it has a petrol internal combustion engine, an electric motor and a set of batteries. Here the similarities end. In the diagram, I've tried to clearly identify the major aspects of the Volt's drive train. It works thus:
1 – Car is ‘plugged-in’ (orange) to mains electricity, this charges up the battery pack (blue).
2 - Battery pack (blue) provides energy to drive electric motor (red), which turns the wheels.
3 - For 45 miles (approx) of driving after each charge, car works solely thus, until the batteries (blue) reach a certain level of ‘discharge’.
4 - At this point, a small, petrol internal combustion engine (yellow) starts. Unlike a normal internal combustion engine car, or indeed the Prius hybrid, this petrol engine cannot drive the wheels. Instead, it drives an on board generator (green) to continue to power the electric motor (red), which continues to provide drive to the wheels.
5 - When mains electricity is available again, car is plugged in once again (orange), to charge the batteries (blue), and the process starts over again.
This sounds quite complicated, and in a way it is. Critics, particularly fans of pure electric cars will point out that this is a very complex system, using more than one engine, which fundamentally still uses petroleum. Although this is true, the Volt could provide a realistic way forward, at least in the medium term, for two reasons:
• The primary concern (according to the auto makers) of most people about electric cars is the limits of their range. Lithium-Ion batteries as used in the Volt have good range properties, to the point that the Tesla roadster (which uses the same kind of batteries, albeit a lot more of them than the Volt) claims to get 250 miles off one 3-hour recharge. The problem is that, good though this is, it still precludes people from embarking on that great American road trip. The Volt's small internal combustion engine and generator basically provide it with unlimited range. Like current cars, one simply keeps filling up with petrol until mains electricity becomes available again to recharge. This ‘compromise’ smooths the path for people to adopt vehicles that they become used to plugging in, whilst allowing them to continue to use their car as they do currently.
• Secondly, the car functions purely on its battery and electric motor combination for the first 45 or so miles after each recharge. According to GM, that means that in this mode alone, the car should meet the needs of 78 percent of people - the average American drives only 29 miles each day. Therefore, assuming that one is able to plug the thing in each night, many people might find themselves never having to put petrol in their Volt.
As a road map to the future, the Volt therefore makes a lot of sense, not just for America, but potentially, more densely populated and urban Europe."
This technical explanation is taken from...2007 blog article! It shows our point one more time - it is not a fashion of the day - it is serious this time. It took a lot of time, capital and commitment to build electric cars ready for the road. Nissan spent 5.5 billion in investments in its electric car program and now Leaf is on the road on North American tour, GM is busy fine turning Volt up to production and Tesla is going public. Time has come for Electric Car.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Saturday, November 28, 2009
From charging the Chevrolet Volt's revolutionary power system to washing the car, everything about the extended-range electric vehicle is new, but Volt owners must find it familiar and easy to use.
Racing to meet those twin goals on an unprecedentedly tight schedule, the engineering team working on the Volt has 25 to 30 of them on the road at all times. The deadline is the Volt's on-sale date in about a year.
"There's still a lot to do, and not much time," chief engineer Andy Farah said recently. "It's all part of the natural evolution of any engineering program, but at warp speed."
Every system, every part must be double-checked and idiot-proofed. Volt engineering manager Nate Fitzpatrick sent his 10-year-old son out to plug the Volt in for charging. "I didn't give him any directions. I wanted to see if we'd made it easy for the owner," Fitzpatrick said. "He figured it out right away."
The rush program to get the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car on sale in a year has become a 24/7 job for engineers charged with developing the car that's intended to revolutionize the auto industry and reinstate General Motors as a leader in advanced technology.
"We're learning all the time," Volt chief engineer Andy Farah said as seven of the team met for a breakfast debriefing at Athens Coney Island in Royal Oak, Mich., on Monday after driving the cars all weekend. The Volt has a 40-mile range on battery power and a small engine that serves as a generator of electric power for longer trips.
"I've been bustin' around all morning, and the engine hasn't started yet," Farah said. "The trip computer said I got 260 miles a gallon over the weekend." Farah recharged the car at home between drives, allowing it to operate nearly entirely on battery power.
The Volt should get a 210-mpg Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating in city driving.
GM built about 80 Volt test cars. Most of the Volts in Athens' parking lot were built to test a specific system, so the engineers compared notes.
"You've got the good aerodynamic package," Volt engineering manager Nate Fitzpatrick said to controls manager Chris Kinser, whose Volt had a nearly invisible air dam below its bumper. "That reduces four counts of aerodynamic drag. I'd give my little finger for four counts of drag," he said, waving his hand over the table.
"They call me 'Stubby,' but it's a great car."
Over the laughter, Rob Bolio, lead development engineer, described the crisis of the car wash. The cover for the Volt's charging port kept falling off.
"The guy who runs the car wash came up to me with a box of parts and said, 'You might have a problem here,'" Bolio remembered. After a quick design revision, Bolio and a designer engineer spent four hours taking Volts through the car wash with no damage except to their patience.
"We're easygoing," Fitzpatrick said. "When there's an issue, we give them 24 hours to address it."
With the first test cars, Bolio woke up two or three times a night to check to see whether they were charging in his driveway. Since then, they've added a light to signify the car is plugged in and charging, a subtle "charging now" beep and a timer.
"Owners can set the car to charge whenever they like," Farah explained."
Racing to meet those twin goals on an unprecedentedly tight schedule, the engineering team working on the Volt has 25 to 30 of them on the road at all times. The deadline is the Volt's on-sale date in about a year.
"There's still a lot to do, and not much time," chief engineer Andy Farah said recently. "It's all part of the natural evolution of any engineering program, but at warp speed."
Every system, every part must be double-checked and idiot-proofed. Volt engineering manager Nate Fitzpatrick sent his 10-year-old son out to plug the Volt in for charging. "I didn't give him any directions. I wanted to see if we'd made it easy for the owner," Fitzpatrick said. "He figured it out right away."
The rush program to get the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car on sale in a year has become a 24/7 job for engineers charged with developing the car that's intended to revolutionize the auto industry and reinstate General Motors as a leader in advanced technology.
"We're learning all the time," Volt chief engineer Andy Farah said as seven of the team met for a breakfast debriefing at Athens Coney Island in Royal Oak, Mich., on Monday after driving the cars all weekend. The Volt has a 40-mile range on battery power and a small engine that serves as a generator of electric power for longer trips.
"I've been bustin' around all morning, and the engine hasn't started yet," Farah said. "The trip computer said I got 260 miles a gallon over the weekend." Farah recharged the car at home between drives, allowing it to operate nearly entirely on battery power.
The Volt should get a 210-mpg Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating in city driving.
GM built about 80 Volt test cars. Most of the Volts in Athens' parking lot were built to test a specific system, so the engineers compared notes.
"You've got the good aerodynamic package," Volt engineering manager Nate Fitzpatrick said to controls manager Chris Kinser, whose Volt had a nearly invisible air dam below its bumper. "That reduces four counts of aerodynamic drag. I'd give my little finger for four counts of drag," he said, waving his hand over the table.
"They call me 'Stubby,' but it's a great car."
Over the laughter, Rob Bolio, lead development engineer, described the crisis of the car wash. The cover for the Volt's charging port kept falling off.
"The guy who runs the car wash came up to me with a box of parts and said, 'You might have a problem here,'" Bolio remembered. After a quick design revision, Bolio and a designer engineer spent four hours taking Volts through the car wash with no damage except to their patience.
"We're easygoing," Fitzpatrick said. "When there's an issue, we give them 24 hours to address it."
With the first test cars, Bolio woke up two or three times a night to check to see whether they were charging in his driveway. Since then, they've added a light to signify the car is plugged in and charging, a subtle "charging now" beep and a timer.
"Owners can set the car to charge whenever they like," Farah explained."
Friday, November 27, 2009
Lithium and REE: France: PSA to launch electric cars in 2010 TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, LI.v, RM.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, AVL.to, QUC.v, RES.v
0 comments Posted by andre at 6:32 PM
"Electric cars are not vacuum cleaners with wheels any more and electric power train opens new possibilities. These babies are beautiful and they are coming in numbers: Bloomberg Nissan, FedEx Seek Electric-Car Target of 200 Million "
"Nissan’s research has shown 8 percent of Americans and 9 percent of Europeans are “hand raisers” who say their next car will be electric — despite the fact the first mainstream EVs aren’t expected for another year.“I think I’m being conservative saying 10 percent,” Ghosn said. “People will say ‘You’re being too bullish.’ But I think that underestimates people’s concern for the environment.”
"You need just to check Gold price and USD index where the truth is, if the same will happen to Oil reserves estimations and Peak Oil will be confirmed for majority of consumers panic will drive prices fast. Now all that effort of DOE to finance alternative energy and, particularly, transportation in the form of electric cars with lithium batteries gains a new meaning - Electric cars can be the only economic and fast deployable alternative to oil based fuels. Rising oil prices will make this transformation happening really fast and lithium and REE will be in a very high demand."
"Automotive World France: PSA to launch electric cars in 2010
Friday, November 27, 2009, AutomotiveWorld.com
PSA Peugeot Citroën yesterday confirmed that it will launch four electric vehicles in 2010, making it the first volume car manufacturer to commercialise a range of battery electric vehicles.
The company’s low carbon vehicle launch timetable was announced yesterday in London at a presentation of the group’s low carbon strategy, which combines battery electric vehicles, diesel hybrids and a range of improved-efficiency petrol and diesel engines.
Peugeot will launch an electric version of the Partner LCV around mid-2010. This will be followed by the iOn, Peugeot’s version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, in the second half of 2010. Citroën will mirror the launches with an electric version of the Berlingo LCV by mid-2010, and the C-Zero in the second half of the year. The C-Zero is the Citroën version of the i-MiEV. There will also be a Peugeot electric motorcycle, the E-Vivacity, in the second half of 2010.
PSA Peugeot Citroën also confirmed its forthcoming hybrid vehicle launches. This will begin in 2011 with two models equipped with Hybrid4, its diesel hybrid system, namely the Peugeot 3008 and the Citroën DS5. In 2012, the 3008 will also be launched as the company's first plug-in diesel hybrid vehicle.
At the low carbon strategy presentation, PSA Peugeot Citroën also demonstrated to journalists for the first time the road-ready Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero models.
More details of PSA Peugeot Citroën’s low carbon strategy will be outlined in a feature to be published by AutomotiveWorld.com, including comments made in an interview with Guillaume Faury, member of the managing board of PSA Peugeot Citroën and executive VP for manufacturing and engineering. PSA Peugeot Citroën says that in 2012, it will sell one million vehicles emitting less than 120g of CO2/km.
Renault and Nissan plan to launch their first electric vehicles in 2011 and 2012.
Published on Friday, November 27, 2009
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PSA Peugeot Citroën yesterday confirmed that it will launch four electric vehicles in 2010, making it the first volume car manufacturer to commercialise a range of battery electric vehicles.
The company’s low carbon vehicle launch timetable was announced yesterday in London at a presentation of the group’s low carbon strategy, which combines battery electric vehicles, diesel hybrids and a range of improved-efficiency petrol and diesel engines.
Peugeot will launch an electric version of the Partner LCV around mid-2010. This will be followed by the iOn, Peugeot’s version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, in the second half of 2010. Citroën will mirror the launches with an electric version of the Berlingo LCV by mid-2010, and the C-Zero in the second half of the year. The C-Zero is the Citroën version of the i-MiEV. There will also be a Peugeot electric motorcycle, the E-Vivacity, in the second half of 2010.
PSA Peugeot Citroën also confirmed its forthcoming hybrid vehicle launches. This will begin in 2011 with two models equipped with Hybrid4, its diesel hybrid system, namely the Peugeot 3008 and the Citroën DS5. In 2012, the 3008 will also be launched as the company's first plug-in diesel hybrid vehicle.
At the low carbon strategy presentation, PSA Peugeot Citroën also demonstrated to journalists for the first time the road-ready Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero models.
More details of PSA Peugeot Citroën’s low carbon strategy will be outlined in a feature to be published by AutomotiveWorld.com, including comments made in an interview with Guillaume Faury, member of the managing board of PSA Peugeot Citroën and executive VP for manufacturing and engineering. PSA Peugeot Citroën says that in 2012, it will sell one million vehicles emitting less than 120g of CO2/km.
Renault and Nissan plan to launch their first electric vehicles in 2011 and 2012.
Published on Friday, November 27, 2009
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Electric cars - Auto Design Electrified. TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, LI.v, RM.v, CLQ.v, AVL.to, RES.v, QUC.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, NSANY, BYDDY, DAI, RNO, BMW, F,
0 comments Posted by andre at 3:39 PM
Electric cars are not vacuum cleaners with wheels any more and electric power train opens new possibilities. These babies are beautiful and they are coming in numbers:
"We have a very strong demand for lithium and REE according to these estimations, with 21kg of lithium carbonate (LC) per each BEV with 24 kWh battery like Nissan Leaf (Electric vans like above will have bigger batteries) we will need 4.2 mil t of LC only for U.S. market with current level of worldwide production 120000t and with BEV almost zero. It means that we need to more than double production level for every year for the next 35 years to produce enough lithium for batteries just to feed the U.S. electric cars fleet. We would like to remind you here that China became the biggest auto market this year and their ambitions in electric space match their reserves with over 2 trillion dollars now. With REE situation will be even more severe - starting from 2014 China will consume all produced REE for its own internal demand. Where all this lithium and REE will come from?"
"The motoring world is moving slowly but surely towards electric vehicles. Right now, however, only a handful of major manufacturers have stuck their head above the parapet and pledged their future allegiance to sparks rather than fossil fuels.
Unlike many other marques Nissan cars don’t attempt to follow the same visual identity - instead each addresses its own specific criteria. Here’s our list of some of the most iconic ones.
Nissan began toying with the electric vehicle as far back as 1947 when it produced the Tama. This year, however, the firm unveiled its first mass-produced global electric car, the Leaf, together with a bold future vision for green city driving in the form of the Land Glider. Both shown at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show, they mark a major commitment to making electric work within the mass market.
W* caught up with Alfonso Albaisa, vice president, and Martin Uhlarik, project lead designer at Nissan Design Europe in London. The Paddington studio has just won the design competition for the first Infiniti electric car, and his team will be responsible for sketching many future Nissan electric cars.
What inspired the unusual narrow shape and the motorbike driving-feel of the Land Glider electric concept car?
Unlike many other marques Nissan cars don’t attempt to follow the same visual identity - instead each addresses its own specific criteria. Here’s our list of some of the most iconic ones.
Nissan began toying with the electric vehicle as far back as 1947 when it produced the Tama. This year, however, the firm unveiled its first mass-produced global electric car, the Leaf, together with a bold future vision for green city driving in the form of the Land Glider. Both shown at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show, they mark a major commitment to making electric work within the mass market.
W* caught up with Alfonso Albaisa, vice president, and Martin Uhlarik, project lead designer at Nissan Design Europe in London. The Paddington studio has just won the design competition for the first Infiniti electric car, and his team will be responsible for sketching many future Nissan electric cars.
What inspired the unusual narrow shape and the motorbike driving-feel of the Land Glider electric concept car?
Alfonso Albaisa: The car was inspired by the new generation of three-wheelers. These narrow cars, though, are not that stable. The Land Glider, therefore, leans automatically into corners - the feeling is very natural as the driver moves automatically with the car’s motion. This shifts the centre of gravity and adds stability to the car when going around corners.
How has the lack of a combustion engine helped achieve this narrow shape?
How has the lack of a combustion engine helped achieve this narrow shape?
AA: Electric vehicles create so many possibilities. If this were an internal combustion engine car you would have to deal with a lot of extra baggage and weight. Instead, the flat and compact lithium-ion battery (which Nissan makes in-house and uses to power motors housed inside the wheels) takes little space and has allowed us to achieve this narrow architecture.
Do you believe that green cars should have their own unique architecture and formal language?
Do you believe that green cars should have their own unique architecture and formal language?
AA: They are finding their own architecture. The formal language, however, is more of a conscious effort - it’s the intentional part. The zero emission car doesn’t need its own design language, but it is important not to express it just like a regular car.
Martin Uhlarik: The potentials are endless with the package, but you can only push this with niche vehicles. The more expensive the car, the less experimental you can be.
How has this been expressed in the Leaf electric production car, which looks more like a conventional square shaped hatchback?
Martin Uhlarik: The potentials are endless with the package, but you can only push this with niche vehicles. The more expensive the car, the less experimental you can be.
How has this been expressed in the Leaf electric production car, which looks more like a conventional square shaped hatchback?
AA: Most people think the teardrop is the most aerodynamic shape, but it needs to be much longer to have enough flow. For a car the size of the Leaf, the square shape is the best as it controls the airflow. You want the air on the side and top to move smoothly over and end at the rear where the semi-square shape directs the air away from the car. We call it the ‘aesthetics of effortlessness’.
MU: There is the sub message that you need to get across with electric cars. The Leaf is a standard vehicle but certain elements say it is a green car. For instance, the blue lighting has an electrical subtext. The aerodynamic package is also giving an eco message.
Why use LED lights, which are substantially more expensive to produce?
MU: There is the sub message that you need to get across with electric cars. The Leaf is a standard vehicle but certain elements say it is a green car. For instance, the blue lighting has an electrical subtext. The aerodynamic package is also giving an eco message.
Why use LED lights, which are substantially more expensive to produce?
AA: The LED light intensity is so strong it allows us to reduce the size of the headlights. Additionally, regular bulbs sap energy out of the battery, but with LEDs you have more light without being conscious of draining the energy from the car.
Electric powered cars have no sound at all. How will pedestrians be warned of an approaching car?
Electric powered cars have no sound at all. How will pedestrians be warned of an approaching car?
AA: We don’t have the sound yet and we don’t want to do something too normal. The more luxury Nissans and the Infiniti brand would need a unique sound. Electric performance cars have tremendous power so this will have to impact on their choice of sound too. It is such a new subject - I love the fact that we are ‘sound brain-stormers’. It is so artistic trying to find a sound that will make you feel you are contributing to the benefits of green driving.
MU: The sound also needs to be geographically different as there are different cultural references.
A sim-card in the Leaf connects the car with the house and a sophisticated IT support system. Will the future car become simply another electronic gadget?
MU: The sound also needs to be geographically different as there are different cultural references.
A sim-card in the Leaf connects the car with the house and a sophisticated IT support system. Will the future car become simply another electronic gadget?
MU: In the future this is going to go a step further so that once you plug your car in to the house’s electricity supply you have affectively connected the two worlds. It needs to become one seamless network of work, commute and home. How this will impact on the visual language depends on the car and who it is aimed at.
Do you believe there is a place for high-performance electric cars?
Do you believe there is a place for high-performance electric cars?
AA: There are people who don’t love sexy sports cars. My teenage kids, for instance, are obsessed with electric cars because they feel they are helping the environment. ‘It’s cool not to pollute,’ they say.
On the other hand, electric cars have a lot of torque so they are great for sports cars. If I were to design one from scratch it would be a lot lighter in weight than say the GT-R - and definitely less brutal looking. You should celebrate mostly torque and acceleration, express nimbleness and explosive speed with a green sports car."
On the other hand, electric cars have a lot of torque so they are great for sports cars. If I were to design one from scratch it would be a lot lighter in weight than say the GT-R - and definitely less brutal looking. You should celebrate mostly torque and acceleration, express nimbleness and explosive speed with a green sports car."
Lithium and REE: South Korea to invest $259 mln in rare metals by 2018 TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v, LI.v, RM.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, AVL.to, RES.v, QUC.v, F
0 comments Posted by andre at 11:51 AM
Everybody would like to secure supply of Lithium and REE. Hong Kong 5th REE conference was all about China and its place in global supply chain of REE - nobody knows for sure how much do they have available now and there are some estimations that starting from 2014 they will consume all their production of REE. Koreans are looking into the future and investment public is following the story.
"Stratfor raises a very serious question: in green economy of the 21st century Lithium and REE become strategic commodities. We have wrote before about "Lithium in the Core of "The Next 100 Years", now it is time to invest in secured Lithium supply in North America."
Reuters - Friday, November 27
SEOUL, Nov 27 - South Korea will invest 300 billion won to develop technologies and raise self-sufficiency rates of rare metals such as lithium and magnesium by 2018, the government said in a statement on Friday. In the private sector, POSCO <005490.ks> will invest 2.8 trillion won in five sectors including rare metals, non-ferrous metals, carbon materials, future new materials, and recycling through 2018, the statement said. LS Nikko will spend 500 billion won in expanding production of rare metals by 2020. "Local demand on rare metals has been rising sharply along with the growth of future advanced businesses including LCD and hybrid cars," the statement said.
"Through the investment the government aims to raise the self-sufficiency rates of rare metals from current 12 percent to 80 percent by 2018."
South Korea's SK Energy <096770.ks> said in October it would supply lithium-ion batteries for a hybrid electric vehicle project for Daimlerunit Mitsubishi Fuso, joining the competition with early movers in the sector including LG Chem <051910.ks> and Samsung SDI <006400.ks>.[ID:nSEO13078]
The statement also said as part of the investment POSCO will set up a magnesium refining plant to produce 10,000 tonnes a year from 2011 and 100,000 tonnes from 2014 in an eastern province of Kangwon, which accounts for 40 percent of magnesium ingots buried in the country, to reduce imports of magnesium ingots. ((meeyoung.cho@thomsonreuters.com; +82 2 3704 5653; Reuters Messaging: meeyoung.cho.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))"
SEOUL, Nov 27 - South Korea will invest 300 billion won to develop technologies and raise self-sufficiency rates of rare metals such as lithium and magnesium by 2018, the government said in a statement on Friday. In the private sector, POSCO <005490.ks> will invest 2.8 trillion won in five sectors including rare metals, non-ferrous metals, carbon materials, future new materials, and recycling through 2018, the statement said. LS Nikko will spend 500 billion won in expanding production of rare metals by 2020. "Local demand on rare metals has been rising sharply along with the growth of future advanced businesses including LCD and hybrid cars," the statement said.
"Through the investment the government aims to raise the self-sufficiency rates of rare metals from current 12 percent to 80 percent by 2018."
South Korea's SK Energy <096770.ks> said in October it would supply lithium-ion batteries for a hybrid electric vehicle project for Daimler
Thursday, November 26, 2009
TNR Gold/International Lithium Reports Significant Rare Metal Mineralization and Extends Lithium Anomaly 1.1 Kms-Mavis Lake, Ont TNR.v, CZX.v, WLC.v,
0 comments Posted by andre at 3:13 PM
"With expanded markets application for Lithium based storage systems, interest in investment world is coming back to Lithium plays and upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change conference could bring a catalyst to the alternative energy sector as a tangible investment theme of 21st century."
TNR Gold and International Lithium have built an impressive "balanced" portfolio of properties with Lithium Brines, Hardrock Lithium projects with Rare metals and Rare Earth Elements properties. First round of exploration confirmed high grade lithium on a number of properties already and three Nevada Lithium Brine properties has moved the company under the spotlight as a U.S. homeland Nevada regional Lithium exploration and development play. What will happen next - can we talk about Department Of Energy (DOE) money to develop the properties down the road or fast playing Chinese will take a piece of action after Canada Zinc Metals acquisition? We have more questions now, than answers and it will be important to hear it from the company itself - time is to tell the story to the market place. Please do not consider our thoughts as an investment advise, as usual, and do your own DD:
Audio: TNR Gold COO Mike Sieb interview on Jay Taylor's Watch List.
We did not have a chance to follow up on this news release last week and picked it up from Jay Talor's Watch List news on TNR's New Rare Earth Find in Ontario.
We have an another set of strong exploration results, which confirms potential of Mavis Lake Lithium project of the International Lithium corp. Lithium anomaly is extended for another 1.1 km in plus to known historical 3.4km target. On number of pegmatites strike length is extended, which could lead to increased potential tonnage, should further exploration confirm continuity and extend of mineralisation with economic grades. Highly anomalous Rare Metals mineralisation is found: "demonstrating widespread and strong rare metal (lithium, tantalum, rubidium, and cesium) mineralization". Number of samples of Rare metals are above detection levels. Property is shaping up into exploration target with stand alone economic project potential of Lithium and Rare metals "in credit" type of mineralisation. Junior has only scratched the surface and further exploration program is warranted with following drilling program.
Please do not forget that all information on this blog is for education purposes only and is not a solicitation to any investment decisions.
Press Release
Source: TNR Gold Corp.
On 10:57 am EST, Thursday November 19, 2009
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 19, 2009) - TNR Gold Corp. ("TNR" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:TNR - News
Key Point Summary:
- Up to 2.11 wt% Li2O from grab and 1.39 wt% Li2O over 4.7 metres in channel samples reported;
- 40% of 244 samples exceed the maximum detection limit for Ta2O5 (greater than 122 ppm);
- Several samples exceed upper detection limits for Rb2O (greater than 1.09 wt%) and Cs2O (greater than 530 ppm);
- Sampling extends lithium litho-geochemical anomaly (greater than 50 ppm Li) by 1.1kms to 4.5kms in length.
2009 Follow-Up Pegmatite Sampling Program
An initial reconnaissance prospecting and litho-geochemical sampling program was conducted by TNR in the summer of 2009 and revealed strong Rare Metals mineralization on the Mavis Lake Property. Samples collected from Pegmatite No. 18 returned up to 3.61 Wt% Li2O from a grab sample, and a composite of channel samples returned assays with 1.24 Wt% Li2O over 5.3 metres (News Release - October 5, 2009).
A follow-up work program was initiated in the Fall of 2009 to further evaluate the lithium and rare metal potential of the property and consisted of a litho-geochemical, mapping and sampling survey. A total of 244 grab and channel samples were collected from the 9 previously known occurrences (Pegmatites No. 11 - No. 19) and from one new occurrence (the RVL pegmatite). The most significant grab assay of 2.11 Wt% Li2O came from the Pegmatite 18, and a composite of channel samples at Pegmatite No. 11 assayed 1.4 Wt% Li2O over 4.7 metres. Some of the most significant lithium, tantalum, cesium and rubidium assays, as oxides, are shown in the table below.
In addition to strong Li2O results, highly anomalous tantalum and cesium values are notably widespread on the property and indicate a high potential for zoned, complex-type pegmatites enriched in tantalum and cesium. Complex-type pegmatites are excellent targets for economic deposits of lithium, tantalum, cesium and rubidium such as the Tanco pegmatite in southeast Manitoba. In total, 97 samples exceeded the upper detection limit for tantalum (40% of the 244 samples submitted) and are currently being re-analyzed.
A noted example of a complex-type pegmatite on the Mavis Lake property is the No. 19 pegmatite, which consists of highly evolved complex-type mineralization and associated sodic aplite veins. A sample of this sodic aplite material registered above the upper detection limits for Rubium greater than 1.09 Wt% Rb2O), cesium (greater than 530 ppm Cs2O) and tantalum (greater than 122.1 ppm Ta2O5) with anomalous concentrations of lithium (0.15 Wt% Li2O), beryllium (341 ppm Be), tin (208 ppm Sn), and gallium (127 ppm Ga).
Pegmatite No. 17, also a complex-type, was mapped and extended 187 metres to a documented strike length of 220 metres. Grab samples indicated a range of Li2O values up to 1.86 wt%.
Channel sampling on the No. 11 pegmatite returned values between 0.9 and 1.74 wt% Li2O over 4.7 metres and 0.24 to 0.98 wt% Li2O over 2 metres. Tantalum, cesium, and rubidium concentrations from these samples were also highly anomalous, indicating the possibility of a complex-type pegmatite.
Note: To view "Figure 1: Lithium Lithogeochemical Anomaly and Pegmatite Location Map - Mavis Lake Project, Ont.", please click the following link:
2009 Lithogeochemical Survey
The 2009 lithogeochemical survey was located north and east of the historical grids of Tanco Exploration and Selco Inc. The 2009 TNR cut grid was oriented at 315 degrees azimuth with lines running approximately perpendicular to foliation. Samples were located at 25 metres or as close as the abundance of outcrop would allow. A total of 334 samples were collected over 11.25 kilometres of line.
Samples returned a range of values from 1.3 to 9780 ppm Li, with 41% (136 samples) returning values greater than 50 ppm Li. Lithium values greater than 50 ppm can be considered strongly anomalous as the average regional background of lithium in mafic metavolcanic rocks is 16 ppm. The 2009 Fall sampling program extended the large lithium dispersion anomaly approximately 1.1 kilometres northeast beyond the 3.4 kilometre long historical anomaly. The lithium anomaly remains open to the east.
The lithium lithogeochemical anomaly has historically shown a strong correlation with the majority of the known pegmatites in the area, thereby indicating a significant potential for the discovery of additional pegmatites on the property.
Mavis Lake Property
The Mavis Lake property is located 15 km Northeast of Dryden, Ontario; easily accessed via the Trans-Canada Highway and by a series of logging roads. The claim block has a total area of 2,544 ha and covers several known Rare Metal pegmatites.
Regional pegmatite mineralization is directly associated with the strongly peraluminous Ghost Lake Pluton and related granite pegmatite dykes. Rare Metal mineralization in the Mavis Lake area occurs in zoned pegmatites hosted by mafic metavolcanic rocks. Rare Metal mineralization has been noted to occur in four zones: as the endogenous beryl zone along the contact of the Ghost Lake Pluton and away from the pluton into the mafic metavolcanics as the beryl-columbite, spodumene-beryl-tantalite and albite-type zones.
Pegmatites on the Mavis Lake property occur in a swarm of flat-lying and near vertical dykes and bear a noted similarity to the Tanco deposit in southeastern Manitoba. The known pegmatite dykes on the Mavis Lake property consist of albite-spodumene-type with beryl and tantalite, albite-type, and complex-type with lithium tourmaline, tantalite and wodginite. The adjacent Fairservice property is dominated by east trending albite-spodumene-type pegmatites, considered to be part of the same dyke swarm as the Mavis Lake pegmatites, and has a historical (non NI 43-101 compliant) resource of 500,000 tons at 1.0% Li2O.
Ike Osmani, P.Geo, is the company's qualified person on the project as required under NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release.
To help understand the technical aspects of Lithium and other Rare Metals please visit TNR's website at www.tnrgoldcorp.com.
ABOUT TNR GOLD / INTERNATIONAL LITHIUM CORP
TNR is a diversified metals exploration company focused on exploring existing properties and identifying new prospective projects globally. TNR has a total portfolio of 33 properties, of which 16 will be included in the proposed spin-off of International Lithium Corp.
It is anticipated that TNR shareholders of record will receive up to one share and one full tradable warrant of International Lithium Corp. for every 4 shares of TNR held as of the yet determined record date. This will result in TNR shareholders owning shares in both TNR and International Lithium. For further details of the spin-off please refer to TNR's April 27, 2009 news release or visit International Lithium Corp.
The recent acquisition of lithium, rare metals and rare-earth elements projects in Argentina, Canada, USA and Ireland confirms the company's commitment to generating projects , diversifying its markets, and building shareholder value.
On behalf of the board,
Gary Schellenberg, President."
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