The electric vehicle revolution has caused panic over battery materials, and global automakers have blocked their supply of lithium.

The electric vehicle revolution caused a panic over battery materials and global automakers blocked lithium supplies

British media said that when Nissan and Mitsubishi launched electric vehicles in the mass market in 2010, Japanese manufacturers enthusiastically bet Due to the increase in demand for batteries. But the electric vehicle revolution did not materialize and much of their investments failed.

According to a report published on the British website \"Financial Times\" on February 24, nearly a decade later, the governments of China and other countries are vigorously promoting electric vehicles in an effort to encourage consumers to abandon internal combustion engines. car.

To conquer the electric vehicle market, car manufacturersglobal companies such as Volkswagen and Tesla are trying to secure the supply of raw materials needed to increase production of lithium-ion batteries, which will be the driving force behind this electric vehicle revolution.

Reports indicate that Chinese supply of electric vehicles is expected to be one of the main drivers of global lithium demand. Goldman Sachs expects China to supply 60% of the world\'s electric vehicles by 2030, up from 45% in 2016.

However, Simon Moores, founder of London-based Benchmark Mining Intelligence said the problem facing all automakers is that none of them have a \"suitable long-term future\" in terms of lithium supply. contract.\"

Millan Thacol, an analyst at Wood Mackenzie, also said: \"I think a lot of automakers are almost in a panic now because theywant to ensure they don\'t. \"Opportunities will be missed in producing the materials needed for batteries.\"

These concerns are particularly evident in Japan, once the leader recognized in rechargeable battery technology.

According to reports, although Japan\'s Panasonic is still the world\'s largest supplier of automobile batteries, two of the world\'s top five lithium battery suppliers are now in China. It is CATL New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and BYD Co., Ltd.

Backed by proactive government policies and subsidies for electric vehicles, Chinese manufacturers also control 50% of the market. the four key components used in lithium-ion batteries, according to the Yano Economic Research Institute. For 77% of the market, these are cathode materials, anode materials, electrolytic solutions andt of separators.

Japanese automakers are not as financially strong as their Chinese rivals and have relied on collaboration with domestic trading companies, battery makers and materials suppliers to solve their resource problems, the report said. shortage problem. But as global competition intensifies, they can no longer solve the problem alone with domestic material manufacturers.

Visiting professor at Nagoya UniversityNobu Sato, a former executive at battery supplier Samsung SDI, said: “Their customers (Japanese material makers) will be all over the world. world.world.\"

He said: \"Although Japanese companies can claim that they can compete with technology, but for future competition in the field of batteries , the key factor will be the ability to invest.\"

The rcontribution believes this has prompted some Japanese companies to try to abandon their old model of relying on domestically produced batteries. The quality of Japanese batteries is believed to be higher than that of Chinese products.

Nissan, for example, last year sold its battery business with Nippon Electric Co. to Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital in an effort to improve its competitiveness in terms of costs.

Dongfeng Nissan Chairman Guan Run said not long ago that the automaker may purchase lithium-ion batteries from a Chinese manufacturer to meet local government requirements.

Elsewhere, the German Volkswagen has launched a five-year call for tenders for cobalt supplies. BMW Group said this month it was close to signing a long-term supply deal for ba metals.materials, lithium and cobalt. Tesla Motors is also in talks with lithium producer Chilean Chemical Mining Company.

Chinese companies have also increased their investments in lithium producers.

China\'s auto industry wants to avoid supply chain bottlenecks that could slow electric vehicle production, said John Vanderveen of RWR Consulting in Washington . He said: “Control of raw materials can ensure the supply chain security China needs to meet its ambitious electric vehicle goals and can prevent other players from moving forward. \"

RWR Consulting Companies said Chinese companies have completed more than $1 billion in lithium ore transactions, mainly automakers and corporationsautomotive supplies. This figure was zero in 2016 and $178 million in 2015.

Among these transactions, Great Wall Motors signed an agreement with the Australian company Pilbara Mining Company to ensure the supply of lithium for five years, the report said.

BYD, China\'s largest electric car maker, has also formed a partnership with Qinghai Salt Lake Potash Co., Ltd. to extract lithium from the salt lake to produce batteries.

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