Posted on 07/28/2015 6:46:18 PM PDT by bananaman22
The age of electrification across the transportation sector, the solar panel revolution, and Teslas battery gigafactory are igniting a battle for the cheapest battery. That will transform lithium into a boom-time mineral and the hottest commodity on the energy investors radar.
It has been easy to take lithium for granted. This wonder mineral is the backbone of our everyday lives, popping up in everything from the glass in our windows to our mountains of electronics.
And while investors have long appreciated the steady rise in demand for this preferred mineral, the number of new applications continues to multiply. Smart phones, tablets, laptops, and other consumer electronics demand more lithium. But the largest driver for future lithium use will be in electric vehicles and home batteries for solar panels. That has lithium on the verge a boom for which supply can no longer be taken for granted.
Not since the shale boom have we seen a market transformation of such significance. Lithium has long been used for a variety of mundane purposes, and while the variety is spectacularwith applications in everything from glass, ceramics and greases to a line-up of industrial processit has flown under the radar for most investors.
Supply has always largely managed to keep pace with steadily rising demand for lithium, and while the mineral is slated for growth with or without the battery explosion, Teslas gigafactory will spark a phenomenal spike in demand that will be no less exciting than the shale boom.
Not only will battery gigafactories change an already attractive lithium demand picture, but the suppliers themselves will change, making way for newer entrantswith more foresight and better technology--that will provide some of the best investment opportunities in the sector.
(Excerpt) Read more at oilprice.com ...
Here’s what I like about Elon Musk, by the way. I don’t have a use for an electric vehicle here, yet, but open source equipment design for a more distributed, productive and strong economy will be a much better fit for fiscal and moral conservatism.
All Our Patent Are Belong To You
Elon Musk, CEO June 12, 2014
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/all-our-patent-are-belong-you
I am referring to the claim of the very quick charge.
While the capacitor may be capable of it, the energy delivery system to the capacitor won’t be capable of that much power.
Yes. That’s true, and spending on infrastructure changes won’t be a political priority.
The utility grid is not the problem, it would be the connection to the car from the grid. The grid can handle that.
But your home or charging station is not going to be set up for 1,000 to 5,000 amps per car for a 5 minute charge.
I’m probably the only man in favor of uranium exploration for many miles here. Also probably the only one who would want feasible natural gas production without monstrous commie fees, too.
But all of that’s going to have to wait until after the end of the default process, many more foreclosures and much rotting of palatial, government-funded houses.
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