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A123 Cracks the Lithium-Ion Battery Code
MIT’s Technology Review has a piece in its May/June 2009 issue outlining the success of A123 Systems in developing a workable lithium-ion battery. Some top people took a number of years to discover and refine solutions to various technical challenges. The result is a product that is now powering Black and Decker tools and looks to be built into a number of planned electric vehicles, including the Chevy Volt.
The company, which has an impressive group of investors including G.E. Motorola, Qualcomm, and M.I.T., is still privately held. Their lithium-ion technology, which I would assume has plenty of patent protection, seems to have put them in a leading position in producing batteries for the next generation of plug in hybrids and EV’s. On the other hand, it is very early in the battery game. It certainly would not be a shock to learn that Toyota or Honda or Panasonic or some other company has discovered an even better approach.
I have not found a better way to play the hybrid/electric car phenomenon than through SQM. There are other lithium producers, but none that are sufficiently concentrated in lithium to make an important impact on the stock. A speculative play that was suggested by an EIS reader is a Canadian company called Western Uranium Corporation. If anyone knows that situation, I would be interested to learn more.
Tags: peak oil energy investments
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Mark L. // May 17, 2008 at 7:12 am
Jim,
I took a look at WUC a few months ago and decided that the best play on Lithium was SQM. Here is a link that might give you more information on WUC and its Lithium assets in Nevada next to my home state of Utah. Chevron was originally involved in the testing of this reserve and determined through their core drilling that there is an estimated 42 billion lbs. of Lithium carbonate. Here is the link: http://www.westernuraniumcorp.com/news/index.php?&content_id=62
One good part of my research with WUC I discovered an interesting uranium stock USU which is the only provider of enriched uranium in the US. They supply 1/4 of the worlds enriched uranium and 1/2 of the US. They are also building a new gas centrifuge enrichment plant which will, when complete, greatly reduce production costs. The stock has very recently been rebounding, gaining 21% in the last 30 days. Good luck… really appreciate your efforts and website!
Mark
2 wilton // Aug 12, 2008 at 1:37 am
Admiralty Resources. Australian listed Iron Ore and Lithium extractor, planning to demerge its Lithium business
3 Black And Decker Tools // Nov 8, 2008 at 4:35 pm
[…] Good enough for me, I think my readers would like this. I’ll put a link to this. […]
4 Les // Nov 30, 2008 at 6:57 pm
WUC spun off its Lithium business and it’s called Western Lithium (WLC on Canadian exchange, WLCDF is US ADR). It doesn’t appear that they have any Lithium revenue yet. From what I’ve read it seems they will produce in 2011 at the earliest.
FMC is another big Lithium producer.
5 Eddy K. // Apr 11, 2009 at 8:09 am
Some juniors with lithium interests are;
Mountain Capital Inc.
Rodinia Minerals Ltd.
Channel Resources Ltd.
Canada Lithium Corp.
All are penny-stocks, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
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