“Head West young man” - "There’s money to be made in them there...

“Head West young man” - "There’s money to be made in them there Europe deals"


Too Bloody Right Mate !!! Is my Reply, if this is anything to go by, as the Revolution Rolls On, as

Volvo Launches EV Battery Pack Assembly Line In Belgium

The battery pack production for the XC40 Recharge P8 is ready.

Volvo officially inaugurated a new battery pack assembly line at its manufacturing plant in Ghent, Belgium (one of two Volvo's European plants), where later this year the company will start production of the all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge P8.

The company will produce battery packs also in Luqiao, China (for Volvo, Polestar and LYNK & CO brands), as well as in the recently announced U.S. plant, outside Charleston, South Carolina.

Lithium-ion cells for those plants will be supplied by two strategic manufacturers: CATL and LG Chem.

Volvo promises to introduce an all-electric car every year over the next five years and increase BEV sales from basically 0% today to at least 50% of its global volume by 2025.

"Over the coming years battery assembly will become an important part of Volvo Cars’ global manufacturing operations as it continues to electrify its entire line-up. The Ghent plant will provide important learnings to other manufacturing sites in terms of process optimisation and efficiency."

Geert Bruyneel, head of global production operations said:

“I am pleased to celebrate this momentous occasion with our employees here in Ghent. As the first of our plants to get a battery assembly line, Ghent plays a pioneering role as we continue to prepare our manufacturing network for electrification.”

Volvo XC40 Recharge specs:

• based on Compact Modular Architecture (CMA)
• range of more than 400 km (249 miles) (most likely under WLTP test cycle)
• 78 kWh battery pack (75 kWh usable, 400 V, 320 kW of power)
• (cells from LG Chem/CATL)
• 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds (4.7 seconds to 60 mph)
• dual motor all-wheel-drive
• system output of 300 kW (408 hp) and 660 Nm (one 150 kW motor per axle)
• fast charging 0-80% in 40 minutes (at up to 150 kW peak)
• 11 kW three-phase on-board charger
• weight of 2,150 to 2,250 kg (4,740-4,960 lbs) depending on version/equipment
• cargo capacity of 413 liters + 31 in front trunk
• maximum roof load: 165 pounds (75 kg)
• Towing capacity of up to 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs)

https://insideevs.com/news/402530/volvo-ev-battery-pack-assembly-line-belgium/



Tesla China Battery Supplier CATL Plans To Largely Increase Cell Production Capacity

www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/tesla-china-battery-supplier-catl-plans-to-largely-increase-cell-production-capacity


Supply agreement with CATL. Battery cell modules for electric trucks


September 18, 2019 - Daimler Trucks & Buses and battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) have entered a global battery cell modules supply agreement for electric series trucks.

CATL will supply lithium-ion battery cell modules for a wide range of Daimler Trucks & Buses’ global electric truck portfolio to be introduced in markets from 2021 onwards, including the Mercedes-Benz eActros, the Freightliner eCascadia and the Freightliner eM2.

The development of the battery systems lies with Daimler Trucks & Buses. Battery pack assembly will be carried out by Daimler Trucks & Buses as well -- at its Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant in Germany and its Detroit (Michigan) plant in the US.

www.daimler.com/innovation/case/electric/battery-cell-modules-electric-trucks.html


Tesla in talks to use CATL's cobalt-free batteries in China-made cars

Tesla is in advanced stages of talks to use batteries from CATL that contain no cobalt - one of the most expensive metals in electric vehicle (EV) batteries - in cars made at its China plant, people familiar with the matter said.

To boost the density and safety of its LFP batteries, CATL has been working on its so-called cell-to-pack technology, the people told Reuters.

It was not clear to what extent Tesla intends to use LFP batteries but the automaker has no plans to stop using its current NCA batteries, said one of the people.

Tesla has been ramping up production of its Model 3 cars at its newly built $2 billion Shanghai plant and cutting prices to win market share from conventional premium automakers such as Germany’s BMW AG and Daimler AG.

www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-china-electric-exclusive/exclusive-tesla-in-talks-to-use-catls-cobalt-free-batteries-in-china-made-cars-sources-idUSKBN20C0RP


AVZ introduces Yibin Tianyi Lithium as a Strategic Investor in A$14.1m equity raising

Yibin Tianyi is backed by a number of Chinese entities including China’s largest EV battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology (“CATL” and Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology Co., Ltd.

Under the Subscription Agreement, upon completion of the placement, both parties will negotiate in good faith to agree and execute a binding offtake agreement for the products from the Manono Lithium and Tin Project.

Yibin Tianyi is currently constructing its Phase 1 lithium chemical plant in Yibin, China,and expects it to be completed by Q22020.The Company’s Phase 2 expansion is expected to be completed by 2023/2024

ASX ANNOUNCEMENT - 11 November 2019




AVZ Minerals is pleased to advise it has commenced initial discussions with Yibin Tianyi Lithium Industry Co.,on a binding offtake arrangement, following a visit to Yibin, China last week.

Yibin Tianyi’s lithium chemical plant is targeting production of up to 25,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per annum. Staged expansion plans are in place to further increase lithium hydroxide production to approximately 100,000 tonnes per annum, making Yibin Tianyi’s plant one of the largest hydroxide suppliers in China.

“Yibin Tianyi’s intention to become one of the largest hydroxide suppliers in China certainly compliments AVZ’s vision of developing the largest hard rock lithium deposit in the world.”

ASX Announcement - 13 January 2020


https://avzminerals.com.au/asx-announcements


China's CATL to scale up EV battery production in Germany

Company expects electric vehicle demand to rise on tougher emissions rules


China's CATL to supply Honda with EV batteries through 2027

Fujian Province-based company to set up R&D facility for automaker in Japan

China's CATL, Honda plan to co-operate on EV battery development


TOKYO - Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd and Honda Motor have signed an agreement to co-operate on jointly developing lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles, as China’s top EV battery maker expands its tie-ups with Japanese automakers.

CATL said on Tuesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Honda under which it would guarantee supply of lithium-ion EV batteries with storage capacity of around 56 gigawatt hours (GWh) to the automaker by 2027, and set up an office near Honda’s research unit in Tochigi Prefecture, outside Tokyo.

“The agreement focuses on supply of EV batteries in Asia,” Honda spokeswoman Tomoko Takemori said, declining to give further details on which of its models would use CATL batteries.

Sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the agreement to explore using CATL technology in Honda EVs was part of Honda’s moves to diversify its battery supply bases to ensure stable stock in the longer term, and that the Japanese automaker has also been in talks with other battery makers, including current supplier Panasonic Corp.

As it pushes to meet China’s stringent “green car” quotas, Honda is planning to launch its first mass-production battery EV in China later this year, while it is building a new plant for new-energy vehicles, including battery EVs and plug-in hybrid cars.

CATL, one of the world’s biggest EV battery makers, adds Honda to its list of partners which already includes BMW, Volkswagen AG and SAIC Motor Corp.

The Fujian-based company has been eager to secure more Japanese clients, and established a sales and development support hub in Yokohama last year.

It already counts Nissan Motor Co as a customer, supplying the batteries for the battery-electric version of its Sylphy sedan in China.

www.reuters.com/article/us-catl-honda-battery/chinas-catl-honda-plan-to-co-operate-on-ev-battery-development-idUSKCN1PU16O


The inside story of how CATL became the world’s largest electric-vehicle battery company

The Company supplies more than 40% of all Batteries that go in Electric Vehicles in China.

CATL is currently filling orders from not just Chinese Carmakers, but also Global Brands like Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler and Honda atm.

Last Month CATL began construction on it's fourth Gigafactory,the companies first outside of China. Located in Germany, the new plant will place CATL and Chinese Technology right at the Heart of German Car Manufacturing.

https://qz.com/1585662/how-catl-became-the-worlds-biggest-electric-car-battery-company/


Increasing Demand for Electric Vehicles Fueling Significant Growth in Battery Mineral Industry

Increasing Demand for Electric Vehicles Fueling Significant Growth in Battery Mineral Industry.

The impressive increase of electric vehicles is creating a significant increase in demand battery minerals, a demand that is fueling growth for mining companies,especially for those with operations in Indonesia, one of the world's top producers of battery minerals.


Several leading auto makers are contributing to the surging EV market as they focus on manufacturing quality electric vehicles. For the third year in a row, Honda Motor Company Ltd. has earned the Kelley Blue Book Plug-In Hybrid Car Best Buy with its Honda Clarity model.

Tesla Inc.has seen impressive success with its Tesla Model 3,which is one of the best-selling cars in Europe.

Toyota Motor Corporation just announced plans to build a new electric vehicle plant in China. And Toyota is partnering with Panasonic Corp to establish Prime Planet Energy & Solutions,Inc.,a joint venture specializing in automotive prismatic batteries.

* Growth of EV industry expected to create two- or three-fold increases in demand for battery minerals over the next decade.

* Home to 25% of the world's nickel resources, Indonesia is essential source of key minerals.

* China leads world EV-battery production; critical market for battery minerals.

* Indonesia recognizes opportunity, focused on developing own EV industry.


The last decade saw significant trends in technology; some of the most significant interest and growth was focused on the EV industry.

Once a pipe dream of green technologists, electric vehicles enjoyed tremendous growth in the past decade.

By 2018, global EV sales had reached 2 million units, and that number is expected to double to 4 million in 2020.

In addition, the once-lofty price of these vehicles is falling, and their battery packs could be cheaper than equivalent combustion-engine models as early as 2022.

This momentum is causing huge growth in the market for the metals used in EV batteries.


Feeding the Chinese Battery Market


The significance of China in the global battery market cannot be overstated.

According to research by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence,88 out of 115 lithium-ion-battery megafactories around the world are located in China.

The country has carefully positioned itself as the center of the global technology supply chain.Previously China's power has been most obvious in consumer electronics, but it is becoming increasingly evident that the country is playing an important role in the rise of EV, as reflected in deals such as the that between Tesla and Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd.

A Critical Industry

The burgeoning EV industry is at the center of this bright future,with the top auto makers around the world rising to the challenge of producing high-quality,eco-friendly vehicles.

Honda Motor Company Ltd.'s Honda Clarity has been available for three years — and has earned the Kelley Blue Book Plug-in Hybrid Car Best Buy all three years."Launched new for the 2018 model year,the Honda Clarity is offered in three very distinct variants: pure electric, fuel cell, and PHEV," Kelley noted when announcing the honor."While this jack-of-all-trades assortment of powertrains may sound like Honda has made compromises,just the opposite is true — the Clarity was engineered as a clean-sheet design with each of those unique models in mind. As a result,driving dynamics are excellent,cargo space and interior utility impressive,and passenger concessions are few and far between."

Tesla Inc.

TSLA has seen impressive success with its Tesla Model3,which is one of the best-selling cars in Europe."Until recently European auto executives regarded Tesla with something like bemusement," a recent "New York Times" article reported."The electric car upstart from California was burning cash, struggling with production problems,and hedge funds were betting it would fail.

The car executives are not laughing anymore.

Almost overnight,the Tesla Model 3 has become one of the best-selling cars in Europe.

In December,only the Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio sold more,according to data compiled by JATO Dynamics,a market research firm."

Recognizing the EV wave of the future, Toyota Motor Corporation recently announced plans to partner with First Automobile Works to build an electric vehicle plant in Tianjin, China. The two companies will invest about $1.22 billion in the plant, which is expected to produce 200,000 battery-only,plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles annually. This news follows the launch of care maker's C-HR and IZOA models, the first battery-electric vehicles to launch in China under the Toyota brand.

Toyota is also partnering with Panasonic Corp to establish Prime Planet Energy & Solutions Inc., a joint venture specializing in automotive prismatic batteries. The joint venture will focus on developing highly competitive, cost-effective batteries that offer excellent quality and performance in terms of capacity, output and durability. The joint venture will supply batteries not only to Toyota but also to all customers.

With the demand for electric vehicles increasing significantly, mineral producers are seizing the opportunities found in a growing battery industry.

www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2020-03-05/increasing-demand-for-electric-vehicles-fueling-significant-growth-in-battery-mineral-industry