Buffett charged by Lithium: China's BYD to mass produce batteries for its electric cars TNR.v, CZX.v, BYDDY, SQM, ROC, FMC, WLC.v, RM.v, CLQ.v, AVL.to

Mass market means going down unit cost and improved safety and quality of production. Competition is hitting up between BYD and other Chinese newcomers and industry heavy weights like Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Customers will be able to chose, prices will go down and Lithium supply will define the speed of market transformation.

"Our mass market for Electric cars and Green mobility Revolution is closer than a lot of people think."

"Now with Electric Cars and Green Mobility Revolution at our doorsteps Lithium and REE is a strategic commodity, when every government would like to have a certainty of supply and not to trade Oil dependence for Battery dependence. It is an opportunity to restart heavily indebted western economies and move it in the new high value added 21st century manufacturing space. UK is very active in this area with few projects announced in Electric cars, battery making and Hybrid cars production.
Next Big Thing - industrial revolution based on green mobility, brings potentially explosive move in Lithium and REE products pricing. Cost of Lithium in the battery is 3-5% and price could move substantially before affecting supply. Welcome to the Gold market back ten-fifteen years ago - with recent Gold price close to 1000 USD/oz Majors are mining deposits considered to be a dust with Gold price at below 300 USD/oz. Lithium price has moved already from 2000 level of 2000 USD/t of Lithium carbonate to over 6000 USD/t now with electric car fever just starting to get into mass media and economies still recovering from near death experience.

"We have spoken many times this year about the 800-pound gorilla and its nearly insatiable appetite for everything resources, from uranium to copper to iron ore to oil and even solar power. China sees the forest through the trees and knows that it must stockpile a large amount of resources now to ensure it can feed its ever growing population and economy in the future."

Will China now move to secure Lithium supply?

"China's BYD to mass produce batteries for its electric cars

[Date:08-22-2009]
Source: Xinhua

Chinese battery and electric automaker BYD Co. has set up a plant to mass produce lithium batteries for its electric cars in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, according to the China Securities Journal. BYD, partly owned by Warren Buffet, has injected around five billion yuan (about 731.5 million U.S. dollars) into the operation of the Huizhou plant, which produces rechargeable batteries, automobile parts and handset components, the newspaper said Thursday. Facilities for the production of batteries for the company's electric cars are almost ready now, since construction began in September last year, the newspaper said. The Shenzhen-based company's F3DM, China's first plug-in hybrid, made its debut last December. Huizhou plant, the first eligible for mass production of lithium-ion batteries that are core technologies of BYD's electric cars, is seen as a key step in the company's electric car manufacturing. The Wall Street Journal said Saturday that the company is aiming to sell its all-electric battery car in the U.S. next year, ahead of the original schedule, citing company Chairman"

"BYD to Sell Electric Car in U.S. Market Next Year

BY NORIHIKO SHIROUZU
XIAN, China -- BYD Co., the Chinese auto maker part-owned by Warren Buffett's company, is finalizing plans for an all-electric battery car that would be sold in the U.S. next year, ahead of the original schedule, Chairman Wang Chuanfu said.
In an interview at a BYD factory here, Mr. Wang said the company aims to use money from a planned new-share sale in China to help pay for the U.S. push, as well as for a second production line for automotive lithium-ion batteries near BYD's Shenzhen headquarters.
He said BYD wants to build up its brand name in the U.S. ..."