Issue 41, September 16th September 30th

Transcription

1 Issue 41, September 16th September 30th

2 CONTENT Batteries and Vehicles Saft inaugurated a lithium-ion battery factory in Jacksonville Toyota introduces the new generation Prius PHEV Valence Technology will provide a lithium battery to an electric bus at Heathrow airport Trojan Battery and Palladium Energy to develop lithium battery packs GM and SAIC to co-develop a new electric vehicle architecture in China Toshiba s Italian subsidiary will supply lithium batteries to improved Italian grid system PSA Peugeot Citroën introduces a new electric vehicle 1Introduction During the 21st and 22nd of September, the Lithium Asia Conference took held in Shanghai, China. Main topics of the seminar were the future of the lithium industry, specifically regarding the use of lithium ion batteries in hybrid and electric cars and also mass energy storage devices for the grid. The presentation of Daniela Desormeaux, signumbox s General Manager, was titled Lithium: a strategic mineral for strategic applications. In her presentation, Mrs. Desormeaux highlighted the importance of lithium batteries in other applications besides electric cars, such as smartphones and mobile phones, tablets, power tools and e-bikes/scooters. According to Mrs. Desormeaux, global lithium consumption is estimated at 120, ,000 metric tones expressed as lithium carbonate equivalent, LCE and is expected an annual growth of between 8 12% per year in the next 15 years depending mainly on how fast electric cars enter into the market. Mrs. Desormeaux s presentation can be download at signumbox s website ( Lithium Industry Amerilithium acquired a Lithium brine Project in Esmeralda, Nevada. Rock Tech Lithium achieved samples of % lithium carbonates and released drilling results Rodinia Lithium released drilling program results at Salar de Diablillos Canada Lithium Corp released drilling program results Simbol Materials to produce highpurity lithium carbonate for EV Lithium One defined a process for refining lithium meanwhile the PEA is completed

3 2 Batteries and Vehicles HIGHLIGHTS Renault and Alsace Regional Government to incentive the electric vehicle usage Date: September, 26th Source: Renault Renault and the Alsace Regional government announced an agreement to promote the electric vehicles usage through customer incentives. In addition, the government is supporting the deployment of the necessary charging infrastructure. Saft inaugurated a lithium-ion battery factory in Jacksonville Date: September, 16th Source: Saft The battery manufacturer Saft announced the inauguration of a lithium-ion battery factory in Jacksonville, Florida. The factory is dedicated to build cells and lithium-ion batteries for energy storage for grid support, back-up power, transportation and defense. This facility is the 16th company s facility, and has an annual sales capacity of US$ 300M and it was co-funded by a grant from the Department of Energy. Toyota introduces the new generation Prius PHEV Date: September, 16th Source: Toyota Toyota introduced the 2012 Prius PHEV at the annual Green Drive Expo en California. This new version replaced the nickel metal hydride battery and introduced a newly developed 4.4 Kwh lithiumion battery, which could be fully charge in 2.5 hours using a 120v household outlet.

4 Hyundai Motor Group will include the PHEV and compact-size EV segments Date: September, 28th Source: Hyundai At the green car Symposium in Korea, Hyundai Motor Group and KIA announced their intention to include PHEV and compact-size EV to their line-up. In the meantime, the group is focusing to massproduce the KIA s electric vehicle TAM, targeting to provide a total of over units by the end of Valence Technology will provide a lithium battery to an electric bus at Heathrow airport Date: September, 19th Source: Valence technology The energy storage manufacturer Valence Technology Inc. announced it would supply an 85 kwh lithium phosphate battery to Solo, the first electric bus in use at Heathrow airport, London. This bus would cover a daily route of around 60 miles and it will be charged at its base at the airport. Trojan Battery and Palladium Energy to develop lithium battery packs Date: September, 20th Source: Trojan Battery The battery manufacturer Trojan and the battery packs manufacturer Palladium Energy signed a strategic alliance to develop lithium battery packs. These packs would be used in Trojan s key market segments: renewable energy, transportation, floor machine, and recreational vehicles, among others. Johnson Controls acquired the Joint Venture signed with Saft Date: September, 30th Source: Johnson Controls Johnson Controls completed the acquisition of the Joint Venture (JV) with Saft for US$ 145 million. The Johnson Controls-Saft Joint Venture was formed in 2006 to develop lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. All the JV s assets are retained by Johnson Controls, and it will be operated under the company s name. GM and SAIC to co-develop a new electric vehicle architecture in China Date: September, 20th Source: GM GM and SAIC signed an agreement to co-develop a new electric vehicle architecture. The companies Joint Venture Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) founded in 1997, will serve as the development center for the architecture. According to the information, the outcome the partnership will be sold in China under Shangai GM and SAIC brands, in addition, both companies will use the architecture to build EVs for their own purposes. Toshiba s Italian subsidiary will supply lithium batteries to improved Italian grid system Date: September, 26th Source: Toshiba The Toshiba s Italian subsidiary, Ansaldo Trasmissione & Distribuzione S.p.A. has won a contract to supply a photovoltaic power generation system, a 45kWh SCiB(TM) lithium-ion battery, EV s chargers and the overall system monitoring and control units, to ACEA Distribuzione S.p.A., one of Italy s leading public utilities. This system is going to be an integral part of a smart grid system, which is expected to be on line by the middle of the year 2012.

5 Mitsubishi Motors signed agreements with Witricity Corp and IHI Corp to develop EV wireless charging systems Date: September, 27th Source: Mitsubishi The company announced an agreement with WiTricity Corporation and IHI Corporation to research and develop electric vehicle wireless charging systems compatible with electric grids. According to the information, the energy transfer would occur with no physical contact as long as the vehicles are equipped with an energy capture device. PSA Peugeot Citroën introduces a new electric vehicle Date: September, 26th Source: PSA Peugeot Citroën PSA Peugeot Citroen introduced a new city electric vehicle at the ADEME innovation forum. The lithium-ion battery s car (provided by Johnson Controls) ensures 8.5 kwh output and 100 km driving range. Mitsubishi Motors signed an agreement with PTT to test the new i-miev Date: September, 20th Source: Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Co. and the Thai energy company PTT signed an agreement to jointly test the new i-miev. Both companies will be cooperating in the research and the development of EV charging infrastructure. In addition to this agreement, MMth has signed agreements with the government of Thailand and two power companies, Metropolitan Electricity Authority and PEA ENCOM in order to test its consumer acceptability, marketability and charging infrastructure.

6 3 Lithium Industry HIGHLIGHTS Galaxy Resources announced lithium carbonate plant s construction updates Date: September, 22nd Source: Galaxy Resources Limited Galaxy Resources informed that the final-stage construction of the Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate plant has continued on scheduled with the successfully installation of the calcination kiln, which allows the plant processing 17,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year. According to the Company, it would become the largest lithiumcalcining kiln in the world. Amerilithium acquired a Lithium brine Project in Esmeralda, Nevada. Date: September, 2nd Source: Amerilithium Amerilithium announced an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Jackson Wash Lithium brine Project in Esmeralda County, at the east of Clayton Valley, Nevada. With this project, the Company adds its fourth Nevada-based lithium project to its portfolio. The transaction included AmeriLithium granting a 2% Net Smeller Royalty to the seller, whereby the 1% of the royalty is subject to a buyback at any time for US$ 500,000. According to the information, a rock sample performed in 2011 from the Jackson Wash property determined a lithium content of 68.8 ppm. The Company also informed positive results from a gravity survey on its Clayton Valley lithium project.

7 Li3 Energy closed US$ 8 million with POSCO Date: September, 22nd Source: Galaxy Resources Limited Li3 Energy announced that it has closed the US$ 8 million funding with POSCO Canada Ltd. Concurrent with this closing, Mr. Hyundae Kim, Director in the Growth and Investment Decision of Posco, was appointed to Li3 s Board of Directors. Rock Tech Lithium achieved samples of % lithium carbonates and released drilling results Date: September, 21st Source: Rock Tech Lithium Rock Tech announced that it has produced % lithium carbonate from a sample taken from its Georgia Lake project in Ontario. Previously the Company had produced lithium of purity. The process used was a standard hydrometallurgical flow sheet, which included concentrate leach, primary impurity removal, secondary impurity removal, ion exchange, lithium carbonate precipitation and bicarbonate polishing. According to the company, the main objective of the test was to determine if a high-grade lithium carbonate sample could be produced from concentrate samples generated through heavy liquid separation and floatation. In addition, the Company released the remaining results from the Diamond Drilling program at the Nama Creek and Conway claim blocks. Lithium Oxide (Li20) ranges from 0.02% to 2%. Mammoth Energy Group acquired new concessions in Chile Date: September, 28th Source: Mammoth Energy Group Mammoth Energy Group s subsidiary, Compañia Lithium Investments Limitada, announced that it has acquired five additional concessions for a total of 1,000 hectares at Laguna Lagunilla in the Pica commune. Rodinia Lithium released drilling program results at Salar de Diablillos Date: September, 20th Source: Rodinia Lithium Rodinia Lithium provided an update on progress of the diamonddrilling program at its Salar de Diablillos lithium project in Salta, Argentina. According to the Company, the diamond-drilling program is ongoing having completed six drill holes for a total of 1,008 vertical meters. Recoveries vary between 10% and 100%. Results of two drilling holes are shown in the following table. Hole N Depth (mt) Li (mg/l) K (mg/l) B (mg/l) D-DD , D-DD Source: Rodinia Lithium.

8 Canada Lithium Corp released drilling program results Date: September, 23rd Source: Canada Lithium Corp. Canada Lithium released the preliminary results from the drilling program at the Company s Quebec Lithium Project near Val d Or, Quebec. According to the press release, highlights from the program include 32.0 meters grading 1.29% Li2O, 12.3 meters grading 1.51%, 10.7 meters at 1.26% and 8.1 meters at 1.11%. The Company also informed that its environmental process is ongoing, since it has received the environmental approval from the Quebec s Ministére du Développement for the commencement of the construction of the lithium carbonate plant. Simbol Materials to produce high-purity lithium carbonate for EV Date: September, 28th Source: Simbol Materials Simbol Materials announced that it has started to produce in a commercial scale, high-purity lithium carbonate for use as an electrolyte material for electric vehicle batteries and other energy storage devices. The plant is located in Imperial Valley, California, and the Company plans to produce at a rate of 500 tones per year in a first stage. Lithium One defined a process for refining lithium meanwhile the PEA is completed Date: September, 29th Source: Lithium One Inc. Lithium One announced an update of the operations at its Sal de Vida lithium and potassium project at Salar del Hombre Muerto, in Argentina. According to the information, the Company has defined the process for refining the lithium and potash from the pilot production plant. The Company also informed the completion of an environment and community related baseline study, which would form an important part of the foundation of the mine permitting process. Lithium One also commented about key advancements in the process such as: magnesium removal, boron recovery, lithium carbonate purification and potash recovery and upgrading.

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