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(10) stories found containing 'plenty of lithium to go around for now'


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  • Robot arm mining on an asteroid in outer space.

    Before mining asteroids, sell the tech

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated May 30, 2024

    Space miners develop Earth-friendly tech products as the first step to a future extraterrestrial economy. Plenty of space mining companies have boomed and gone bust in the last decade. In spite of this, "the field has exploded in interest," said Angel Abbud-Madrid, director of the Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines. The costs of space travel and exploration have been reduced dramatically due to the privatization of transport. With deep-sea mining still...

  • Corked bottle with image of Earth inside as the message washed up on a beach.

    Message in a bottle: More copper needed

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Apr 19, 2023

    In a clarion call to current and future mining colleagues, IMDEX geoscience chief warns lack of copper may slow energy transition. As global governments and industries scramble to ensure there is enough lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths to build the collective vision of a future where electric vehicles are charged with zero-carbon renewable energy, the geoscientists charged with discovering the mineral deposits needed to meet global demand are much more...

  • Livent Corp. Salar del Hombre Muerto salt lake Argentina lithium brine EVs

    BMW secures $335M of lithium from Livent

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 10, 2022

    In a move to secure the lithium needed to power its e-mobility aspirations, BMW Group has entered into a deal with Livent Corp. to supply roughly US$335 million (285 million euros) worth of this vital battery metal beginning in 2022. BMW Group plans to have about a dozen fully electric models on showroom floors and expects that battery EVs will make up more than half of its total sales by 2030. As a result, the German luxury automaker expects to deliver roughly 10 million EVs...

  • BMW Group headquarters in Munich Germany EV electric vehicles

    BMW sources sustainable Moroccan cobalt

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 10, 2022

    BMW Group has secured a deal for 100 million euros worth of the sustainably sourced cobalt needed for the lithium-ion batteries that are powering its expanding line-up of electric vehicles. This important but oft-controversial battery metal will be acquired from Managem Group, a Moroccan mining company that produces cobalt, copper, fluorite, gold, silver, and zinc at its seven mines in Morocco and one in Sudan. The agreement with Managem will provide BMW with about 20% of its...

  • BMW iX3 electric sports utility vehicle German luxury electric mobility

    BMW adds SUV to electric vehicle lineup

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 10, 2022

    The BMW Group July 14 announced the world premiere of its the BMW iX3, a sports utility vehicle that provides drivers with an emission-free option for enjoying the comfort, multi‑faceted functionality, and spaciousness of the BMW X3. The iX3 is powered by the fifth generation of BMW's eDrive technology. The German automaker says this newest electric drivetrain represents the major progress it has made in terms of power density, operating range, weight, installation space r...

  • Tesla Roadster electric vehicles EV batteries drive demand for lithium mining

    Electric vehicles power lithium demand

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 10, 2022

    Despite global mines supplying more lithium than markets demand and the effects COVID-19 is having on the worldwide economy, Morningstar Inc. sees the 2020s as being "a transformational decade for lithium, as demand will grow over six times 2019 levels." This forecasted growth in lithium demand will be largely powered by an uptick in the adoption of electric vehicles and the lithium-ion batteries that power them. Roughly 305 metric tons of lithium was consumed globally during...

  • BMW battery e-drive electric vehicle powertrain facility Dingolfing Germany

    BMW expands battery plant on EV demand

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 2, 2022

    Growing demand for electric vehicles has prompted the BMW Group to accelerate the expansion of production capacity and staff at its Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing, Germany. "We are embarking on a massive expansion of our Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing – from 8,000 square meters currently to 80,000 in the future. This is where we produce powertrain components for our fully and partially electric models," said BMW Group Head of P...

  • Tesla CEO Elon Musk Gigafactory lithium-ion battery cobalt mine deal

    Tesla heads to the mines for its batteries

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 1, 2022

    Tesla Inc. needs an increasing amount of lithium, graphite, nickel and cobalt for the lithium-ion batteries that power its growing lineup of electric vehicles. With its own rapid expansion, coupled with every major automotive brand in the world adding increasing numbers of EV models to their lineups, securing sustainable and ethical supplies of the lithium, cobalt, graphite, and nickel that go into the batteries that power these zero-emission automobiles has become crucial....

  • Lithium brine mine lithium-ion battery supply Argentina

    Plenty of lithium to go around for now

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 1, 2022

    Half as dense as water, lithium is the lightest of all metals. Because it is highly reactive, however, it would not work to make super buoyant boats. Instead, this metal believed to be one of only three elements created with any abundance during the Big Bang (the other two being hydrogen and helium) has found a use that takes advantage of both its light weight and reactiveness – lithium-ion batteries. "Lithium consumption for batteries has increased significantly in recent y...

  • New all-electric Mini Cooper makes debut

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 1, 2022

    BMW Group is rolling out its new Mini Cooper SE, an all-electric version of this popular urban cruiser that is all about locally emission-free mobility. Powered by a 135-kilowatt, 184-horsepower electric motor, the new Mini Cooper SE accelerates from zero to 37 miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour) in 3.9 seconds and from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.3 seconds. Its space-saving high-voltage lithium-ion battery, located in the vehicle floor, enables a range of 235 to 270...