Battery Metals

Slower-than-expected consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in 2023, wavering economic growth in China since the pandemic, and burgeoning lithium and cobalt supplies have sent prices of both metals lower, even as producer/hedger interest in futures contracts has expanded dramatically. China is the biggest market for EVs, while lithium and cobalt are used in the […]

Lithium prices in China fell sharply last week to hit their lowest point in over two years, after a trial delivery of the critical battery metal to the Guangzhou Futures Exchange indicated larger-than-expected supply. The most-traded January lithium futures contract on the exchange edged up 1% on Friday to end the week at 124,050 yuan […]

Chile has earmarked $7 million to invest over three years in up to ten research projects linked to lithium, including environmental and social aspects of mining the battery metal. “The more we know about the salt flats, the communities that surround them, and the technologies for their extraction and use, the faster and easier we […]

Glencore (GLEN.L) has decided to build a pilot project for an electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling plant outside of Italy, but still has its eye on the island of Sardinia for a larger facility, the Swiss mining group said on Thursday. Responding to a Reuters request for comment on a newspaper report, Glencore said that […]

The oil and gas industry needs to let go of the “illusion” that carbon capture technology is a solution to climate change and invest more in clean energy, the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday. “The industry needs to commit to genuinely helping the world meet its energy needs and climate goals – […]

Kinterra Capital, a Canadian private equity firm, has closed its $565 million debut fund dedicated to securing critical mineral assets for battery development. The influx of private capital comes amid increasing government incentives into the sourcing and production of battery materials in North America. Kinterra’s oversubscribed round will target asset-level investments in North America, Western […]

Ford Motor will scale back the investment, capacity and the number of jobs planned for an electric-vehicle (EV) battery plant in Michigan that has drawn fire from U.S. lawmakers for its use of technology supplied by Chinese battery maker CATL, the automaker said on Tuesday. Ford said it would restart construction of the factory near […]

A spokesperson for Canada’s minister of employment says they have not seen “reasonable justification” from NextStar for the use of temporary workers from South Korea, as the news sparks backlash among politicians who want to see jobs go to Canadians because of the massive subsidies the EV battery plant received. The NextStar EV battery factory, […]

The Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have collectively infused billions of dollars into the electric vehicle industry in the United States. The IRA has enabled consumer incentives such as the $7,500 tax credit, while provisions in both policies have incentives for local battery production, and charging infrastructure expansion. Policymakers in Washington have […]

Back in June, GM announced plans to build a fourth major battery plant in the U.S., selecting a site in Indiana for construction. The new facility will be built under a joint venture with Samsung SDI, and will be the first plant built under the new partnership. Now, new details have come to light regarding […]