Toyota Strikes Deal With World’s Top Supplier of Electric Car Batteries
Toyota Motor Corp. agreed to buy batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) as part of a broader partnership, the latest in a slew of tie-ups being forged as global carmakers race to secure stable supplies for electric vehicles.
VIII International Seminar: Lithium in the South America Region
Orocobre Limited CEO and Managing Director Martín Pérez de Solay presented at the annual “VIII Seminario Internacional: Litio en la Región de Sudamérica” speaking in detail about the current levels of production at the Olaroz Lithium Facility, progress of the Stage 2 Expansion project, the current state of the lithium market and Sales de Jujuy... View Article
Olaroz Lithium Facility’s Stage 2 Expansion continues to advance steadily
As part of his presentation at “VIII Seminario Internacional: Litio en la Región de Sudamérica” (VIII International Seminar: Lithium in South America), Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Orocobre Limited, Mr. Martín Pérez de Solay was interviewed exclusively by the event organisers PANORAMA MINERO.
May 3, 2019
Tesla Inc expects global shortages of nickel, copper and other electric-vehicle battery minerals down the road due to underinvestment in the mining sector, the company’s global supply manager for battery metals told an industry conference on Thursday, according to two sources.
The company, a major minerals consumer, has rarely talked publicly about its views on the metals industry. Copper, nickel, lithium and related minerals are key components used to make electric-vehicle batteries and other parts.
Sarah Maryssael, Tesla’s global supply manager for battery metals, told a closed-door Washington conference of miners, regulators and lawmakers that the automaker sees a shortage of key EV minerals coming, according to the sources.
According to a Tesla spokesman, the comments were industry-specific and referring to the long-term supply challenges that may occur with regards to these metals.
The copper industry has suffered from years of underinvestment, and it is now working feverishly to develop new mines and bring fresh supply online as the electrification trend envelops the global economy. Freeport-McMoRan Inc, the world’s largest publicly traded copper producer, is expanding in the United States and Indonesia.
Maryssael added, according to the sources, that Tesla will continue to focus more on nickel, part of a plan by Chief Executive Elon Musk to use less cobalt in battery cathodes. Cobalt is primarily mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and some extraction techniques – especially those using child labor – have made its use deeply unpopular across the battery industry, especially with Musk.
Maryssael told the conference, hosted by commodity pricing tracker Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, that there is “huge potential” to partner with mines in Australia or the United States, according to the sources.
Australia late last year signed a preliminary deal with the United States to support joint research and development of minerals deemed critical to the U.S. economy.