China, Oil and Lithium: Beijing to mass produce electric cars TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, F, BYDDY, NSANY, DAI, RNO, GM, HEV, AONE, LUN.to

After groundbreaking Toyota move with Tesla, Daimler is pushing its way into Electric Cars mass market and in Asian market with BYD. Companies have announced a few cooperation ideas before and now it is the time is for the bold action and they are establishing a J/V. Auto Majors are buying time in Electric Car market battle field. Nissan is a clear leader on the pricing side for EV now and GM Volt will be first to market with Range Extender model alongside with BYD. Toyota has lost its time on Soft Hybrid side and Daimler was very cautious with its engagement in Electric Cars as well. Daimler has made an impressive Electric show at Frankfurt Motor Show last year, but real things were among Hybrids and Smart Electric to test the grounds with small town car. This concept model above was still at the prototype level at that time. Now BYD will get premium auto brand, safety and mass production technology and Daimler will get access to batteries, low cost production base and the market.

"Competition for Oil is heating up and aggressive move by China into Electric Cars leaves no other options for US than to follow. In order to keep power China needs gradually improve standard of living, it will bring upside pressure on labor cost. Electrification will not only provide Energy Security to China, but will significantly reduce the cost of its transportation element and provide another opportunity to stay among low cost producers. Situation is completely different to U.S. - they have capital to invest in Electric Mobility CAPEX now and rip the rewards of lower cash cost on transportation side later. We will refer you to the Economics of Electric Cars.
Recent Ash Cloud events in Europe brought a very sobering sense of the feeling to be grounded. It is amazing how many things are taking for granted. This time it is Ash Cloud - what will happen with oil above 150?
Electric Cars is the only commercially viable technology today to sustain mobility world wide with rising Oil prices. Lithium is at the heart of Green Mobility revolution - it is an industry adopted standard for batteries and billions of dollars are invested into battery technology and upcoming by the end of this year Electric Cars on a mass market scale. This Bull market is still very young - only a year or so from the beginning after the crash of 2008."

The Malay Mail:

Beijing to mass produce electric cars

Submitted by amir azree on Friday, May 28th, 2010
Friday, May 28th, 2010 11:04:00

ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY: The BYD Auto on show at the company's factory in Shenzhen

FRANKFURT: Chinese auto group BYD (Build Your Dreams) and German luxury car maker Daimler announced yesterday a joint venture to mass produce an electric car in China. A new research and development group to be called Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Company will get an initial investment of around US$87 million (RM286m), a Daimler statement said. "We are well-placed with our new joint venture to make the most of China's enormous potential in electromobility," Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said. Daimler is to bring "knowhow in vehicle architecture and security" to the venture , while BYD will contribute "its competence in batteries and propulsion systems for electric vehicles," the statement added. The world's oldest automaker and one of the youngest aim to market the vehicle under a new jointly-owned brand, joining forces to target China's fast expanding urban market. Around 16 million autos are currently sold across the country each year. Launched just seven years ago, BYD Auto now claims to be the sixth biggest car maker in China and its future plans are focused on electric or hybrid vehicles, building on the experience of its battery-making parent group. The Chinese firm, in which US billionaire Warren Buffett holds a stake of 10 per cent, has already begun to sell its electric E6 model as a taxi in the southern city of Shenzhen and aims to distribute the car in Europe next year."

EVs mass market: $10k Electric car tax break proposed TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, NSANY, BYDDY, F, GM,

"The main open question is: will Electric Cars' adoption rate be correlated with Washing Machines' one or will it enjoy more explosive growth like Mobiles with rate of acceleration like iPods on the chart below? First, we will strike brutally and cynically (the way the Wall Street works): how can you compare washing machines and Cars? Even Electric ones? Cars are all about men, their personal social security space with a statement. How many of us discussed washing machines even the best ones? Brutal history about washing machines is that it was for the "best part" - to make her life better, it was not about status and not about statement - so it took 80 years to get to the 80% adoption rate. On a more serious note time has changed: it will not be about him all the time this time and it is not about U.S. only this time, but first back to iPod Moment."

We have another reason to believe that growth in Electric Cars penetration rate could be explosive: in all estimates government policy is crucial combined with lithium battery cost for mass adoption of EVs within next ten years.

DetNews.com:

Electric car tax break proposed

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf buyers in select cities would get $10K incentive under Senate plan
David Shepardson / The Detroit News
Washington -- Buyers of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf would be eligible for a $10,000 federal tax credit in some cities under a $10 billion Senate plan to boost electric vehicles.
House and Senate members on Thursday released similar plans intended to make electric vehicles more than niche models.
The House version would spend $6.6 billion, dedicating $800 million to five "deployment communities" to speed 700,000 plug-in vehicles into use and establish recharging networks. A Senate version would spend about $10 billion and grant $250 million to up to 15 communities.


The Senate version would extend the current $7,500 tax credit for 200,000 plug-in vehicles per manufacturer to 300,000. And it would boost the credit to $10,000 in those 15 communities.
That would further reduce the cost of the Volt, which will get up to 40 miles on a charge, and the fully electric Nissan Leaf, which will get up to 100 miles.
General Motors spokesman Greg Martin praised the bills.
"We appreciate Congress' foresight and interest in electric vehicles," he said. "With the Chevrolet Volt just months away from the showroom, we believe the timing is right to start working on policies that can accelerate early consumer adoption of advanced electric vehicle technologies."
Electric vehicles enjoy widespread support across the political spectrum.
"Republicans and Democrats agree that electrifying our cars and trucks is the single best way to reduce our dependence on oil," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., one of the sponsors.
Both bills would set aside billions more for research into batteries, research and tax credits.
The Senate bill also would create a $10 million prize for the first manufacturer of a battery that can get 500 miles on a charge.
Congressional aides have spent several months writing the bills. Members cited the recent Gulf oil spill as a factor in the urgent need to shift vehicles from oil to electric power.
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., noted that the United States has 2 percent of the world's oil reserves but consumes 25 percent of the world's oil.
"This isn't a question of if, but when," Markey said, adding the bill would speed up the widespread use of electric vehicles. "It will drive the creation of jobs, domestic manufacturing and homegrown innovation."
The Senate bill would require that one of the 15 deployment communities be a rural area of fewer than 125,000 people and would "reflect diverse populations" and geography.
The Senate bill sets aside another $2 billion for grants and cost sharing -- local communities would have to provide 20 percent of the funding.
Communities and their business and utility partners would have to apply for inclusion.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100528/AUTO01/5280349/1148/rss25#ixzz0pDCtrQjP"

James Dines: The Future of Gold, Nuclear Power and Rare Earth Minerals TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, AVL.to QUC.v, RES.v, GRC.to,

The Future of Gold, Nuclear Power and Rare Earth Minerals

Satturday May 8th, 2010.

James Dines Editor & Publisher The Dines Letter with Jim Puplava.

"Lithium is the leveraged play on Peak Oil and rising Oil price with coming Inflation. Sector is very small and market is even more smaller - everything is ready for the parabolic move in case of supporting fundamentals."

James Dines has started the fire with REE market last spring as he did with Uranium before:

Lithium and REE Investment Manifesto and Next Big Thing in action:San Francisco notes.

"Big IF" was in 2003 when James Dines pronounced bull market in Uranium and we made an easy killing on basket of Uranium Junior miners, some of them going from low 0.2 to over 1.0 AUD on Chinese money coming into the sector in less then a year. James Dines is in the picture again and this May he moved the REE market with value doubled and tripled with his announcement of the first Major Bull market after 2003 Uranium call in Rare Earth Elements. It will be our first take out from San Francisco Hard Assets conference last week - meeting hall was full of crowd and Master energised by attention proclaimed:
In 70s he told to his followers Buy Gold and he was a Gold Bug. He was stared down but refused to retreat. (This phrase followed every of his bullish calls.)
In 80s he told to Buy China and he was China Bug. He was...you know what happen next.
In 1997 he told to Buy Internet and he was an Internet Bug.
In 1999 he told to sell Internet stocks.
He told that it will be era of raw materials in 2000.
2002 he announced Uranium Super Bull.
2005 he told Sell Real Estate.
In November 2008 he told that it is Not the End of the world and mining stocks will double again.
In May 2009 he told about coming Buying Panic in Rare Earth Elements, announced Super Major Bull market in REE and became a Rare Earth Bug. They (REE) will be on front pages and Goldman Sachs owns Molycorp - private company which owns last past producing mine in USA. (We did not verify this information.)
- James Dines, John Kaiser and Jack Lifton are all extremely bullish on Rare Earth Elements and Jay Taylor has picked up recently TNR Gold / International Lithium for his Watch List. James Dines called it "The One Best Area to Buy Now", John Kaiser worried about "Security of Supply in a Changing World" and Jack Lifton reported on "In 2010 What will be the Best Plays in Rare Earths for Small Investors As Well As Large". Reasons sighted are the same as we have discussed before here:
China controls more then 97% of the market now.
By 2014 China will consume everything that will be produced in REE space.
All other REE metrics like 36 kg of REE in every Prius and 300kg of Rare Earth magnets per 1 mW of Wind Tubines."

China and Lithium: Electric cars to get a lift up from new policy measures TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, LI.v, F, NSANY, BYDDY, FXI

China has a very high ambitions in electric car space. Among advantages are relatively cheap qualified working force of literally thousand engineers devoted to Lithium ion batteries and Electric Cars in BYD alone. It is not a surprise that Chinese companies are so active in Australia securing supply of Lithium, whether they will be coming after Japanese companies to Argentina, Nevada and Canada we will see in the nearest future.

"We have now a Chinese perspective on the potential for the market for Electric cars, China' ambitions and its clear understanding of Lithium as a strategic commodity for ongoing Green Mobility Revolution. They are talking about the same "Golden Triangle" of Lithium as Rick Mills did in his recent report and Lithium ABCs:"

"Electric cars to get a lift up from new policy measures

By Lan Lan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-08 10:02

Beijing: Chinese automakers are set to benefit from a much-awaited government stimulus plan that encourages production of fuel-efficient vehicles, said industry sources.

The green auto plan, currently awaiting government approval, is expected by industry players to be unveiled in the next couple of months.

According to the plan, electric cars that qualify for subsidies are those that have received government's production license and are assembled in China, regardless of whether made by domestic or joint-venture firms.

The industry sources said that imported electric cars would have little hope of benefiting from the policy in the initial stages.

Private buyers in five chosen cities could obtain incentives, with potential limits of up to about 60,000 yuan ($8,788) or 50,000 yuan per car.

Miao Wei, vice-minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has said the government planned to launch the incentives for private purchases of new energy vehicles in March. However, the plan has since been postponed.

Zero emission pure electric cars would be the preferred technological paths for new energy cars in China, which would be reflected in the stimulus plan, said sources. Other technical options include hybrid, fuel cells and hydrogen fuel new energy vehicles.

"The government's stimulus policy, which will be released soon, will focus mainly on promotion of pure electric cars," said Xu Changming, a senior economist of State Information Center, a thinktank under the National Development and Reform Commission.

Pure electric cars could eliminate dependence on oil and provide an opportunity for Chinese automakers to catch up with global carmakers, which already have a head start in the electric car market. For other technologies such as hybrid, Xu said it still requires advanced engine and transmission technologies, but such advancements are lagging behind at the moment.

China's roadmap for new energy cars for current period is "giving priority to pure electric cars, and taking hybrid cars as complement", said Zhang Jinhua, vice-secretary general of China's Society of Automotive Engineer, who is also an official for the national 863 research program on energy saving and new energy vehicles.

Fuel cell and hybrid vehicles were targeted as the priority for new energy vehicle development in China's 11th Five Year Plan (2005-10), but the authority's mainstream opinion has shifted to cars powered by pure electricity, and hybrid and fuel cell technologies would mainly be applied on commercial vehicles, said analysts.

"In the long run, commercialization of new energy cars cannot only rely on government's stimulus," said Frank Liao, chief engineer of Chery's automobile engineering research institute.

"The contest for new energy vehicles will last for decades and which technology path would prevail in the competition is up to market forces," Liao said.

Related readings: Daimler, BYD in China electric car partnership China Qinyuan seeks to boost electric car sales in US China to lead the way in electric cars, says Bain China drives on green wheels amid crisis

The first round of competition for the electric cars market share would mainly be between medium and small-sized domestic, private automakers, as large State-owned domestic automakers have acted sluggishly in the electric car research and development.

A batch of pure electric cars has rolled-off from the assembly lines at BYD, Chery, ChangAn and Zotye. BYD Auto launched its plug-in hybrid car F3DM at the end of March and tiny Zhejiang-based Zotye Auto launched its 2008 EV in January.

"Big State-owned automakers didn't take the development of electric cars seriously five years ago and now they are feeling the sense of urgency as the smaller rivals have marched in advance," said Wang Zhenpo, an associate professor at the electric vehicle center of Beijing Institute of Technology."

Lithium Demand: NEC to Spend $542 Million Raising Lithium-Ion Output TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, LI.v, WLC.v, SQM, ROC, FMC, HEV, AONE, F, NSANY, BYDDY

NEC is the lithium-ion batteries suppler for Nissan. After today's Nissan Leaf announcement on pricing we have another confirmation of a very robust demand for Electric Cars in this pricing range. NEC rumping up batteries production means only one for our Lithium Demand expectations that this bottleneck will be even more crucial for Electric Cars roll out in a mass market fashion - we expect more deals from Japanese trading houses to secure Lithium supply from upcoming developers in the sector.

BusinessWeek:

"Bloomberg

NEC to Spend $542 Million Raising Lithium-Ion Output

March 30, 2010, 4:42 AM EDT

By Jason Clenfield（Closes share price in fifth paragraph.）

March 30 (Bloomberg) -- NEC Corp., Japan’s largest maker of personal computers, will invest more than 50 billion yen ($542 million) to expand production of parts used in lithium- ion batteries supplied to Nissan Motor Co.

The money will be spent over the next 12 months, NEC spokesman Chris Shimizu said today by telephone. Nissan, Japan’s third-largest carmaker, starts domestic production this year of its Leaf electric car and in the U.S. in 2012.

NEC, which supplies electrodes to a battery-making venture it has with Nissan, is looking to tap into a growing market for electric cars amid rising fuel prices and concern that conventional vehicle emissions worsen climate change. Morgan Stanley has forecast 52 percent compound annual growth for global auto battery demand from 2012 to 2018.

The Nikkan Kogyo newspaper reported the planned investment earlier today, citing an interview with Nobuhiro Endo, incoming president for the Tokyo-based company. Shimizu confirmed the report.

NEC climbed 2.9 percent to close at 282 yen after rising as high as 283 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 1 percent.

--Editors: Dave McCombs, Aaron Sheldrick

To contact the reporter on this story: Jason Clenfield in Tokyo at jclenfield@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Young-Sam Cho at ycho2@bloomberg.net."

Lithium Batteries Are Included in KB Home and BYD's Solar House TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, LI.v, WLC.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, F, DAI, BMW, NSANY

Energy storage will play a very important role in cleantech applications like solar and wind power. It is very encouraging to see the use of Lithium-ion batteries for domestic use in this collaboration between BYD and KB Homes. Earlier Panasonic has announced similar program for Japanese house builders. 16 kWh battery is almost the same like in electric cars (16-24 kWh) and this integration will allow to use solar and wind power for domestic use with smart connection to the grid, when you can sell expensive energy during the day and recharge your Electric Car and/or battery during the night. Mass scale adoption of distributed energy storage by domestic batteries and/or electric cars plugged in to the grid will allow Utilities to integrate domestic wind and solar power on the mass scale into the grid and perform much more efficient grid energy management optimising the load and generation of power. For our Lithium demand it means another wide open market application with a very fast adoption rate which will be generated by lower battery prices and upcoming mass scale production volume will allow to lower prices further in its turn.

Batteries Are Included in KB Home and BYD's Solar House

PHOTO CREDIT: SUNPLUGGERS.COM

California's KB Home and China's BYD Co. teamed up to showcase solar homes of the future, complete with batteries to store electricity.

By Michael Balchunas

Published March 26, 2010

The home of the future – with solar-electric modules on the roof and a lithium-ion battery in the garage – may have a welcome mat out sooner than expected.

The California-based builder KB Home and China's BYD Co., which makes plug-in cars, batteries and solar equipment, have partnered to build modestly priced homes in Lancaster, Calif., that will go a step further than other new solar housing developments by including battery storage of the solar electricity.

Off-grid solar owners for many years have used battery banks to store their generated electricity for later use, but the plan for the KB Home development – smack in the middle of a grid-tied suburban subdivision – could help alter the trajectory for adoption of both solar electricity and plug-in vehicles.

"The energy produced by the solar panels during the peak time is stored in the battery system and can be used later at night for the home," said Bill Wang, business development director for BYD America Corp., at a press conference to announce the partnership in Lancaster, a city about 70 miles north of Los Angeles.

PHOTO CREDIT: SUNPLUGGERS.COM

Bill Wang, business development director of

BYD America Corp., explains how the energy

from the home's solar array will be stored.

Unlike homemade off-grid battery banks, which have typically used traditional lead-acid batteries, the storage system that KB Home and BYD showed off packages the lithium-ion battery packs in sleek, dark-tinted cabinets with flashing LED lights that continuously display the system's – and perhaps the future homeowner's – status.

The battery packs may store as much as 16 kilowatt-hours of electricity. A typical Southern California household uses about 20 kwh a day. The lithium-ion ferrous phosphate battery packs will be the same type used in plug-in vehicles that BYD expects to roll out in Los Angeles later this year.

Thomas C. DiPrima, executive vice president of KB Home's Southern California division, said the plan is to offer the solar-and-battery combinations first in one model home and four production homes in West Lancaster at no extra cost to the buyers, then to offer the systems as an option in the same subdivision and others. The West Lancaster houses have starting prices that range from about $210,000 to $257,000.

"Our long-term goal is to get to where we can do this nationwide," Mr. DiPrima said. "Our hope and our goal is to make it so affordable that it can be offered in a new home as a standard feature," he added, noting that solar PV is becoming cost-effective as a retrofit for many existing homes. Because the approach is a new one, it could be years before such a system is standard in a new KB home, he said.

Until now, it was thought that battery storage of solar electricity would not even begin to be an option for typical urban and suburban solar owners until years in the future.

Automakers in recent years have been outlining the future potential deployment of used batteries from plug-in cars to store solar electricity. Because automotive battery packs are expected to have typical lifetimes of about seven years and 100,000 miles, and large-scale manufacturing of electrified vehicles is still about two years away, it appeared that widespread use of used batteries in residential garages would not begin until 2018 to 2020.

But the plan described by KB Home and BYD to install new lithium-ion battery packs in garages changes a scenario that was already evolving rapidly. The plan meshes with the accelerating installation of new digital meters at households throughout the nation.

"Smart" meters make it easier for homeowners and utilities to monitor electricity use, and allow for time-of-use pricing, under which electricity costs more at times of peak demand – typically around breakfast and in the afternoon and early evening – and less during off-peak periods.

Solar photovoltaic systems produce electricity only during the daytime, and their early afternoon peak production often coincides with rising air-conditioning loads. The electricity that utilities buy for distribution at such times generally costs much more than does off-peak production. Traditionally, households have paid a predetermined, average price per kwh for electricity. Time-of-use rates permit pricing that more closely reflects real-world usage and generation patterns.

The plan to use new lithium-ion battery packs in residential garages could open up a range of potential opportunities for owners of solar-electric systems and plug-in vehicles. For the first time, they could have significant control over their generation, storage and use of electricity, moving it from a solar array to a car battery, into the home or into a storage battery, depending on their needs and the electricity's price at a particular time.

The battery pack also could pull low-cost electricity off the grid at night for use during higher-priced peak periods, either in the home or in the grid. The system's operation could be programmed with cellphones, PDAs or computers, or could be automated.

Another potential benefit: the end of blackouts. If a power outage occurred on the grid, a homeowner with a digital meter, a solar-and-battery combination, and perhaps a plug-in vehicle, could be unaffected. Grid-tied systems are designed at present to shut down automatically when grid power goes out, but that is likely to change as the technology develops.

If this use of new lithium-ion batteries were to become very popular, it would likely drive down the cost of such batteries for use both in homes and in vehicles more rapidly than expected through economies of scale in manufacturing.

PHOTO CREDIT: SUNPLUGGERS.COM

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, right, said

the new approach "redefines how Americans

are going to use energy in their houses."

With Mr. Parris are Thomas DiPrima,

executive vice president of KB Home's

Southern California division, and Stella Li,

senior vice president of BYD.

Reducing the cost of solar and battery technologies is a key part of the plan. Using energy more sparingly and efficiently, and saving money for consumers, is the ultimate goal. KB Home plans to study the usage patterns of those who buy the solar-and-battery homes.

"All we'll ask of the homeowners is that they'll share with us their energy bills so we can see what the actual savings are in a home," said Mr. DiPrima.

The city of Lancaster, which has a population of about 145,000 people, is in the Mojave Desert's Antelope Valley, in northern Los Angeles County. The city waived municipal development fees for the homes to be outfitted with solar-and-battery systems, and has fast-tracked the permitting process. The first solar model home is expected to be completed in three or four months.

R. Rex Parris, the mayor of Lancaster, said at the press conference that petroleum is a finite energy source.

"The price of energy is just going to go up and up and up," he said. "If we can reduce the amount of energy we're using and the cost of it, it becomes much more affordable to live for all the hard-working families in the Antelope Valley and everywhere else."

Mr. Parris said the new approach "redefines how Americans are going to use energy in their houses."

BYD became prominent in U.S. investment circles when Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. bought 10 percent of the company in 2008. It started as a low-cost producer of cellphone batteries, and only recently began manufacturing automobiles, lithium-ion battery packs for plug-in vehicles, and solar equipment. Wang Chuanfu, BYD's chairman, is believed to now be the wealthiest person in China.

Stella Li, senior vice president of BYD, said at the press conference that the goals of the partnership to build the solar-and-battery-equipped homes are to help people "save money and make a cleaner planet."

Mr. DiPrima of KB Home said he expects homeowners to have some reservations about the new technology at first.

"I think the biggest concern will be, 'How difficult will it be for me? Do I have to go throw a switch? Do I have to program a computer?' And the fact that the system does that will probably take some of the fear away," he said.

Unlike some new solar-home developments that are installing tiles that blend in with a roof, KB Home and BYD plan to use stand-off modules of the type commonly added as retrofits to existing buildings. Modules with air space beneath them operate at higher efficiency because of the cooling effect, but are more visible than tiles.

"We are not seeing the aesthetics of solar being a deterrent," Mr. DiPrima said. "In fact, in California we've found that people want to show off their solar panels."

He added that because some people do prefer the look of solar tiles, KB Home works with local officials on the type, style and aesthetics of equipment, as it does with other elements of home designs.

"We're not looking at aesthetics as being a challenge," Mr. DiPrima said. "We've got to make sure that the system is as easy to operate as possible. The less they have to do, the better."

SinoLatin Capital Releases Its Latest White Paper 'Is Lithium the 21st Century's Oil?' TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, F, GOOG,

We have now a Chinese perspective on the potential for the market for Electric cars, China' ambitions and its clear understanding of Lithium as a strategic commodity for ongoing Green Mobility Revolution. They are talking about the same "Golden Triangle" of Lithium as Rick Mills did in his recent report and Lithium ABCs:

"Rick Mills has put together a very good overview of the Lithium sector, production cycles and basic economics for Lithium Brines and Hard Rock Lithium mining. For us it is interesting to use his check lists to evaluate properties of International Lithium Corp. in Lithium Brines and Hard Rock Lithium. Mariana project in Argentina fits very well into described model for Lithium Brine Deposit. Company has put in a new presentation its own exploration models for Mariana Salar in Argentina and its Brine Lithium projects in Nevada."

SinoLatin Capital Releases Its Latest White Paper 'Is Lithium the 21st Century's Oil?'

SHANGHAI, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent white paper, Shanghai-based SinoLatin Capital spotlights the lithium industry and how the anticipated explosive global demand for this silvery metal will lead to a surge in acquisitions by Chinese firms in Latin America.

The white paper reports that lithium, which is a key ingredient in the majority of consumer electronics, including cell phones, laptops, cameras and PDAs due to its ability to store more energy longer, will become significantly more important from a geo-economic standpoint. As the world's leading economies race to develop better hybrid or all-electric vehicles in an effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change, countries with significant lithium deposits will become extremely important. China today is at the forefront in its efforts to develop these electric vehicles and will seek to position itself early in securing the necessary raw materials (such as lithium) to further advance the industry.

According to SinoLatin Capital CEO Erik Bethel, who authored the white paper, "From our vantage point in Shanghai, we believe that China will be a global leader in developing and producing electric cars running on lithium-ion batteries. But in order to be competitive, China needs to go outbound to secure enough lithium. And a huge portion of the best lithium is located in Latin America's Lithium Triangle." Mr. Bethel, who leads SinoLatin Capital's metals and mining practice, advises both Chinese firms and Latin American firms on acquisitions and strategic investments.

The white paper provides an in-depth description of South America's "Lithium Triangle" -- Argentina, Bolivia and Chile -- where 70-75% of the world's salt lake lithium deposits are found. Although Chile is the world's largest producer, neighboring Bolivia, which does not currently produce any lithium, purportedly has the world's largest known reserves. In a short time, the Lithium Triangle will have enormous geopolitical significance as the world's major economies continue to shift their focus towards alternative fuels.

Additional whitepapers and further details of 'Is Lithium the 21st Century's Oil?' can be freely downloaded fromhttp://www.sinolatincapital.com/White.asp. Alternatively please contact Erik Bethel at ebethel@sinolatincapital.com, telephone +(8621) 6109-9568.

Located in Shanghai's financial district, SinoLatin Capital is the first merchant bank focused exclusively on cross border transactions between China and Latin America. The Firm has two core businesses: financial advisory and private equity.

SOURCE SinoLatin Capital

Lithium and REE: GM Unveils EN-V Concept: A Vision for Future Urban Mobility TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, LI.v, HEV, AONE, NSANY, GM, BYDDY, F,

Here it comes: design utilising the most promising use of Electric Drive - engineers are not restricted anymore to traditional components and can use build-in motors incorporated into the wheels. Basically this technology works in a normal 4 wheel car - GM has made here even more futuristic proposition. All EV is based on four major components: passenger compartment, energy storage (Lithium-ion batteries as announced by GM), power controlling system and Powertrain in the form of Motors incorporated into the wheels. Bill of materials will be the same as in EVs: Lithium for batteries and REE for powerful electric motors. We think that the future of electric cars will be in adoption of normal utility based cars like GM Volt, Nissan Leaf and others. If in the future urbanisation will lead to adoption of this kind of EVs our most optimistic forecast for Lithium and REE demand could be proven wrong - you can place literally double the amount of these kind of vehicles compare to normal cars. Every EV will need a battery and electric motors. Maybe it will be the only way to bring mobility to hundred millions of Chinese and Indians in the future.

Video

GM Unveils EN-V Concept: A Vision for Future Urban Mobility

2010-03-24

• Radical Change in Mobility to Address Growing Urbanization Issues
• Convergence of Electricity and Connectivity Redefines Automobile DNA
• EN-V Concepts to be Showcased at World Expo 2010 Shanghai

Shanghai – By 2030, urban areas will be home to more than 60 percent of the world’s 8 billion people. This will put tremendous pressure on a public infrastructure that is already struggling to meet the growing demand for transportation and basic services.

General Motors and its strategic partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), share a common vision for addressing the need for personal mobility through a radical change in personal urban transportation. They are exploring several solutions for tomorrow’s drivers. Among the most promising is a new vehicle form called EN-V.

A Promising Solution

EN-V, which is short for Electric Networked-Vehicle, maintains the core principle of personal mobility – freedom – while helping remove the motor vehicle from the environmental debate and redefining design leadership. EN-V is a two-seat electric vehicle that was designed to alleviate concerns surrounding traffic congestion, parking availability, air quality and affordability for tomorrow’s cities.

Three EN-V models were unveiled today in Shanghai. They represent three different characteristics that emphasize the enjoyable nature of future transportation: Jiao (Pride), Miao (Magic) and Xiao (Laugh). The concepts will be showcased from May 1 through October 31 at the SAIC-GM Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai. Shanghai is expected to become one of the epicenters for the establishment of personal mobility solutions for the future.

“EN-V reinvents the automobile by creating a new vehicle DNA through the convergence of electrification and connectivity. It provides an ideal solution for urban mobility that enables future driving to be free from petroleum and emissions, free from congestion and accidents, and more fun and fashionable than ever before,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group.

Breakthrough Technology

EN-V’s platform has evolved from the platform of the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (P.U.M.A.) prototype that was developed by Segway and debuted in April 2009. Segway has worked collaboratively with GM to develop and deliver multiple copies of the drivetrain platform that seamlessly connect to and power the various EN-Vs.

EN-V is propelled by electric motors in each of its two driving-mode wheels. Dynamic stabilization technology empowers EN-V, giving it the unique ability to carry two passengers and light cargo in a footprint that’s about a third of a traditional vehicle. It can literally “turn on a dime” within its own operating envelope. In addition, everything in EN-V is drive-by-wire, supporting its ability to operate autonomously or under manual control. The motors not only provide power for acceleration, but also bring the vehicle to a stop.

Power for the motors is provided by lithium-ion batteries that produce zero emissions. Recharging can occur from a conventional wall outlet using standard household power, allowing EN-V to travel at least 40 kilometers on a single charge. EN-V can also improve the efficiency of the public electric infrastructure since the vehicle can communicate with the electric grid to determine the best time to recharge based on overall usage.

By combining the Global Positioning System (GPS) with vehicle-to-vehicle communications and distance-sensing technologies, the EN-V concept can be driven both manually and autonomously.

Its autonomous operating capability offers the promise of reducing traffic congestion by allowing EN-V to automatically select the fastest route based on real-time traffic information. The concept also leverages wireless communications to enable a “social network” that can be used by drivers and occupants to communicate with friends or business associates while on the go.

This combination of sensing technology, wireless communication and GPS-based navigation establishes a technology foundation, pieces of which could migrate from the EN-V concept and potentially lead the way to future advanced vehicle safety systems.

The ability to communicate with other vehicles and with the infrastructure could dramatically reduce the number of vehicle accidents. Using vehicle-based sensor and camera systems, EN-V can “sense” what’s around it, allowing the vehicle to react quickly to obstacles or changes in driving conditions. For example, if a pedestrian steps out in front of the vehicle, EN-V will decelerate to a slower and safer speed and stop sooner than today’s vehicles.

GM has been a leader in developing autonomous vehicle technology, having worked alongside students and faculty at Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This collaboration created “The Boss” Chevrolet Tahoe, which brought autonomous vehicle operation to life in 2007. EN-V takes the lessons learned in “The Boss” and offers mobility to people who could not otherwise operate a vehicle.

“The EN-V concept represents a major breakthrough in the research that GM has been doing to bring vehicle autonomy to life,” said Alan Taub, Global Vice President of GM Research and Development. “The building blocks that enable the autonomous capabilities found on the EN-V concept such as lane departure warning, blind zone detection and adaptive cruise control are being used in some GM vehicles on the road today.”

EN-V has been designed for the speed and range of today’s urban drivers. It weighs less than 500 kilograms and is about 1.5 meters in length. By comparison, today’s typical automobile weighs more than 1,500 kilograms and is three times as long. In addition, today’s automobiles require more than 10 square meters of parking space and are parked more than 90 percent of the time. EN-V’s smaller size and greater maneuverability mean the same parking lot can accommodate five times as many EN-Vs as typical automobiles.

Smaller, Smarter Design

While EN-V leads the way in terms of efficiency and technology, it also sets a new benchmark for vehicle design. For its debut, GM had design teams around the world provide their vision of what future mobility will look like. Xiao (Laugh) was designed by GM Holden’s design team in Australia, while the look of Jiao (Pride) was penned by designers at GM Europe and Miao (Magic) was designed at the General Motors Advanced Design Studio in the U.S. state of California.

Each EN-V has a unique design theme to showcase the flexibility of the propulsion platform. The design gives each EN-V its own personality, with a unique opening, elegant interior and innovative color, lighting and seat technology. Xiao offers a more lighthearted appeal, with its “gumball blue” paint and nautical-inspired design. Miao takes most of its design cues from the consumer electronics industry, as evidenced by its sleek, masculine looks. Designers also used Miao to display innovative lighting solutions, including extensive use of LED accent lighting. With its clean lines and bright paintwork, Jiao takes its design influence from bullet trains and Chinese opera masks.

"EN-V incorporates significant technology and material innovation, which has given the design team a whole new world to explore,” said Clay Dean, Director of Advanced Design for GM North America. “Because of the lightweight structures, materials and integrated controls, we created unique surface forms not traditionally found in automotive applications.”

The body and canopy of EN-V are constructed from carbon fiber, custom-tinted Lexan and acrylic, materials that are more commonly used in race cars, military airplanes and spacecraft because of their strength and lightweight characteristics. The ability to work with such innovative materials provided a learning opportunity for GM’s design teams to study the feasibility of future traditional automotive applications.

EN-V’s compact size makes it ideal for use in densely populated cities thanks to its use of advanced safety and propulsion technologies. But good things come in small packages, as witnessed by EN-V’s innovative interior design, which provides maximum visibility to the world outside. A simple interface for activating Wi-Fi-based technologies keeps occupants connected to the outside world.

“The future of how we move around in urban areas like Shanghai can combine the best of personal mobility and public transit. There is a better solution and it is called EN-V. It demonstrates that we have both the knowledge and the ability right now to create a way to move people that not only ensures a ‘better city’ but also offers people a ‘better life,’” said Taub.

General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 204,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM is the joint global automobile partner of World Expo 2010 Shanghai along with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC). More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.