Battery Metals

German automaker Volkswagen (ETR: VOW3) announced on Wednesday its acquisition of a 9.9% stake in Canadian lithium company Patriot Battery Metals (TSX: PMET) (ASX: PMT) for $48 million. This marks the first time Volkswagen and its battery subsidiary, PowerCo, have directly invested in the lithium supply chain, as the company aims to secure raw material […]

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s transition team is recommending sweeping changes to cut off support for electric vehicles and charging stations and to strengthen measures blocking cars, components and battery materials from China, according to a document seen by Reuters. The recommendations, which have not been previously reported, come as the U.S. electric-vehicle transition stalls and […]

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery manufacturers must detect various physical flaws during production to ensure safe, reliable performance. Failure to detect even minute defects could lead to internal short circuits, overheating, fire, explosion, diminished function, costly product recalls and serious reputation damage. Li-ion batteries can produce gas under stress and a process called gas evolution can lead […]

A growing wave of protectionism is sweeping across 72 nations, as governments scramble to secure access to critical minerals essential for strategic industries, new research by global risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft shows. The study reveals a surge in state intervention not seen in Western democracies since the early 20th century, driven by concerns over […]

Gold advanced for a third straight day after a key US inflation report reaffirmed expectations that the Federal Reserve will likely cut interest rates next week. Spot gold gained 0.7% to trade at $2,713.85 per ounce by 11:10 a.m. ET, the highest in nearly three weeks. Meanwhile, US gold futures rose by 1.3% to $2,755.00 […]

Gold logged another record high on Tuesday as uncertainties surrounding the US presidential election and the Middle East conflict kept bullion’s appeal high. Spot prices rose as much as 0.9% to $2,771.70 an ounce, topping the all-time high set last week, before settling back at 2,763.24 an ounce by noon EDT. US gold futures gained […]

Russia’s Nornickel, the world’s largest producer of palladium and a major producer of refined nickel, has raised its 2024 production guidance for all metals. The company said on Monday that its full-year nickel production forecast was now at 196,000-204,000 metric tons, up from 184,000-194,000 tons previously. The new target was still below the 209,000 tons […]

Researchers from the University of Virginia have made significant strides in the rapidly advancing field of 3D-printed concrete by developing a more sustainable, printable cementitious composite. This new material, which combines graphene with limestone and calcined clay cement (LC2), offers enhanced strength and durability while significantly reducing carbon emissions, making it a powerful solution for […]

Under a new agreement inked between Ford and LG, the companies will move production of EV batteries for the Ford Mustang Mach-E from Poland to its Michigan facility in 2025. This (of course) has everything to do with the IRA and tax credits. “To capitalize on competitive market conditions,” the new agreement moves Ford Mach-E […]

Carmaker Stellantis will launch by 2026 a demonstration fleet of vehicles fitted with solid-state batteries from U.S. startup Factorial, the two companies said on Wednesday. Solid-state batteries are expected to reduce fire risk and allow for lighter, lower-cost cars that can travel further on a single charge. They are seen as a game-changing technology for […]