Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Warren Buffett And Elon Musk To Spark A Lithium Boom
Oilprice.com ^ | 28-07-2015 | Dave

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 Tesla’s 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 investor’s 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 spectacular—with applications in everything from glass, ceramics and greases to a line-up of industrial process—it 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’, Tesla’s 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 entrants—with more foresight and better technology--that will provide some of the best investment opportunities in the sector.

(Excerpt) Read more at oilprice.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: batteries; efv; electriccars; energy; lithium; tesla
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

1 posted on 07/28/2015 6:46:18 PM PDT by bananaman22
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: bananaman22

Hydrogen is the better battery.


2 posted on 07/28/2015 6:49:08 PM PDT by Praxeologue ( ')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bananaman22

God knows plenty of Americans need regular doses.


3 posted on 07/28/2015 6:49:25 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bananaman22

Lithium mining is good for the environment. </sarcasm>


4 posted on 07/28/2015 6:49:52 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (To defeat the democRATs, we must first defeat the Republicans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
Lithium mining is good for the environment.

When crony capitalists and regime affiliates make money from it, you're darn right!

5 posted on 07/28/2015 6:52:48 PM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart

LoL. :)


6 posted on 07/28/2015 6:54:06 PM PDT by moose07 (Islam and the New Stone age: A book i've not yet written.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: bananaman22
Elon Musk should also watch graphene battery development very closely. Lithium batteries are expensive.

Breakthrough for electric cars: Supercapacitors from miracle substance charges batteries in minutes
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3315951/posts


7 posted on 07/28/2015 6:54:38 PM PDT by familyop (Stampedes driven by fallacies of the most base and simple kind as issued from decaying brains.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: moose07

Well it’s true... LARGE doses.


8 posted on 07/28/2015 6:57:07 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: bananaman22

I’ve heard that Li can be explosive.


9 posted on 07/28/2015 7:02:32 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

Super-capacitors can also discharge quickly. Be careful out there.


10 posted on 07/28/2015 7:04:32 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Keep it away from water.


11 posted on 07/28/2015 7:22:11 PM PDT by darkangel82
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: bananaman22

Wasn’t that Elon’s rocket that sploded last month trying to go to space?


12 posted on 07/28/2015 7:25:08 PM PDT by Cats Pajamas (Romans 1:18-32 ..............God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart

They could just raid the stash our governor here in MN is on


13 posted on 07/28/2015 7:54:52 PM PDT by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TurboZamboni

Personally I think we need more politicians currently in office on anti-psychotic/psychotropics. It sure wouldn’t hurt.

Any drugs would help really. Acid. Mushrooms. Pot. Angel dust... They might act closer to human.


14 posted on 07/28/2015 8:01:09 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
Lithium mining is good for the environment. < / sarcasm >

Lithium miners tend to be pretty low-key.

15 posted on 07/28/2015 9:01:42 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Vote GOP: A Slower Handbasket)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Praxeologue
Hydrogen is the better battery.

Speaking as someone who has had to deal with hydrogen in refinery process:

No, it is not.

Getting hydrogen to a usable form for transportation involves energy losses in the neighborhood of 50% or even more.

16 posted on 07/29/2015 4:24:01 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: familyop

Make sure you read the post in that link that discuss the power delivery system required to make that claim a reality.


17 posted on 07/29/2015 4:26:25 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

Not that low-key.

https://www.google.com/search?q=lithium+mining&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAmoVChMIl7j1yKyAxwIVRhKSCh1clQxa&biw=1920&bih=1024


18 posted on 07/29/2015 5:31:37 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (To defeat the democRATs, we must first defeat the Republicans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: thackney; Paladin2

That’s good advice. Thank you.


19 posted on 07/29/2015 12:25:41 PM PDT by familyop (Stampedes driven by fallacies of the most base and simple kind as issued from decaying brains.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: thackney

The car industry and the fedgov were talking up hydrogen fuel cells back in the 60s. And they still are today, without much real progress in commercial viability.


20 posted on 07/29/2015 12:28:30 PM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson