Rising gasoline prices and increased consumer awareness of green has been the global automotive industry to review its training system power, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles has now become (HEV) application technology come to the forefront.
Analysts said that the face of near-zero emissions from the point of view, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) battery with 2015 sales of lithium is expected to more than 500 million U.S. dollars. gw240，g1947
Currently, Rockwood Holdings, Chile, Quimicay Sociedad Minera (SQM) and FMC Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer of lithium, the effectiveness of lithium to be due to many new applications.
1. Lithium For development prospects ion
Lithium in the application of lithium-ion is confirmed. The first phase of cell phone applications, each cell needs to use about 1 / 10 ounce of lithium carbonate. The second step is the demand of laptops, mobile phones require the use of lithium carbonate is about 10 times the amount used.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) use of lithium batteries for laptop computers must use lithium-lithium 100 times.
The lithium-ion batteries should be the performance of the HEV to play a key plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) using the combustion engine and two electric propulsion systems. HEV, including plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the system used by combustion engines, because there is enough electricity for storage can be powered by battery, a certain distance.sony vgp-bps8a , In addition, the pure electric vehicle (EV) does not define the combustion engine, rely on battery electric drives. The lithium-ion batteries is expected to enable the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) price and performance to natural gas powered cars comparable.
Although Nickel - Metal Hydride has been applied to most of HEV batteries, but lithium-ion battery and compared to the manufacture of chemicals, plants larger and smaller. Toyota Prius hybrid electric cars common to nickel - metal hydride-powered. Toyota said that by 2010, hybrid sales of 1 million years.
Chemical manufacturers to invest in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), there is potential for development. Rockwood company has developed a proprietary technology of lithium salts driver, as driver lithium battery can help to overcome some challenges. SQM with Europe, Japan, Korea and the United States, the leading manufacturer of cathode business alliance created to develop automotive lithium-ion batteries.
However, the automotive industry in the mass production of hybrid electric vehicles are still at the initial stage, the lithium battery car is still very low. The strong growth in other end user demand and the prices just continue to support the application of lithium.
Bank of America, Kevin McCarthy, according to forecasts, sales of lithium 2015 HEV will approximately 6 billion dollars. Analysis, HEV lithium there are more opportunities for long-term development. It is estimated that by 2010 sales of approximately one million hybrid electric vehicles, will double annual sales by 2015. Bank of America, toshiba tecra a7 battery , Kevin McCarthy expects operating income in 2015 consumption of lithium batteries account for almost half of batteries pure electric vehicles in 2007 will be the total amount of lithium is less than 1% increase in sales business in 2015 was 1 / 4.
Rockwood company in 2007 by lithium carbonate, lithium metal and lithium compounds from total operating revenues of approximately 4.5 billion U.S. dollars. FMC 2007 sales of 210 million U.S. lithium. Rockwood and similar to FMC products of lithium carbonate and special common lithium products downstream. SQM is the world’s leading manufacturer of lithium carbonate, which came in 2007 from lithium and lithium derivatives revenues of 179.8 million U.S. dollars.
Batteries, and medical end-users together accounted for on the supply of lithium Rockwood 40%. Analysts estimate that the short term, demand for lithium in the pharmaceutical sector will be affected mainly by strong demand for butyl lithium and other battery applications of lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate and stimulate request.
Production of lithium carbonate consumption in HEV cases showed a high demand there is no double-digit rates. In 2007, nearly 20% of demand growth is expected in the medium term will continue to be above 10% rate.
In most applications the battery, the rapid increase in the medium term are presented in the grease lubricants lithium hydroxide, glass and glass-melting material with lithium carbonate, lithium carbonate and d ‘ other air conditioning systems.
With lithium-ion HEV Powered accelerate the commercial market, the battery company Johnson Controls-Saft was in January 2007 in France, a large-scale production of the world’s leading manufacturer of batteries for hybrid electric vehicles production, and has been with Mercedes hybrid electric vehicle company signed class supply lithium-ion battery contracts, a1175 , a1185 , hybrid electric vehicles in the class of commercial production in early 2009. NEC Electronics Japan, the annual production in 2009 is 13,000 lithium-ion batteries by 2010 expansion to 6.5 million units, to apply to hybrid electric vehicles Nissan.
Some car manufacturers use lithium-ion battery powered hybrid electric vehicle program developed. Tesla Motors has been the United States in March 2008 to begin production in 2008 Tesla Roadster electric hybrid vehicles, we will launch the 2009 model. Toyota and Matsushita joint venture Panasonic EV Energy Company in 2009 vehicle production limited to lithium-ion batteries in 2010, transition to mass production.
A number of other manufacturers of lithium ion, including LG, South Korea Company, Chemical, Society and the South Korean Hyundai Motor Company has signed a contract with effect from July 2009 to Accent Hybrid distribution of electric vehicles lithium-ion batteries. PHEV Saturn and General Motors Volt EV mass production in 2010. Sanyo Electric Company will begin production of 1.5 ~ 20000 / year on lithium-ion battery for HEV use in 2011. Volkswagen, hybrid electric cars in 2010 using the Sanyo Electric Company-technology lithium ion batteries.
2009 lithium-ion rechargeable battery market was formally established. fpcbp121ap , This is because in Japan and the automakers abroad have started in the cars on the use of lithium-ion battery. Domestic manufacturers in Japan, Toyota Motor, Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Motors has decided to adopt, while in Europe and the United States, Daimler also said that the adoption. In addition, Nissan, Germany, Audi, General Motors is also ready to adopt in 2010.
Decided hybrids (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EV) performance of rechargeable batteries, most of the more significant changes occur. The reason is that Toyota, Nissan, automakers top of Japan have since introduced in 2009 models with lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
Objects involved in HEV, EV, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and other areas. Toyota has announced it will start a subsidiary in 2009 - Panasonic EV Energy production in small batches for the hybrid rechargeable lithium-ion battery, started mass production in 2010.
In 2000, “Tino hybrid” style on the first lithium-ion battery is equipped with Nissan, also in 2010 with mass production of lithium-ion rechargeable HEV and EV. HEV due to the back of four-wheelers motor, the current transmission has been made public, and tap into the luggage compartment is equipped with a lithium-ion battery. These batteries will be Nissan and NEC, NEC Dong-Jin, a joint venture Automotive Energy Supply (AESC) provides.
In addition to Toyota, Nissan, other major providers are also required to use the lithium-ion battery. Fuji Heavy Industries, mass production scheduled in 2009 to “Plugin Stella Concept” for the prototype EV, Nissan will be the same car using batteries manufactured AESC. In addition, Mitsubishi Motors will also purchase and GS Yuasa Corporation (GS Yuasa), as a joint venture between Lithium Energy Japan (LEJ) Batteries manufactured in 2009, mass production of EV “i MiEV”. btp-63d1
Honda plans new models of HEV further in 2009 and 2010 in the “Fit” in additional HEV models, but has not yet shown that in general the use of lithium-ion HEV battery. However, the company in November 2008 in Japan began to rent vehicles to hybrid fuel cell “FCX Clarity” is equipped with lithium-ion rechargeable battery, replacing the capacitor has been used before.
In foreign manufacturers, the Volkswagen Group in Germany is planned for 2010 Audi Announces HEV, the lithium-ion batteries, Sanyo Electric will mass production in 2009. The decision of General Motors on the HEV market in 2010, lithium-ion batteries will also Hitachi Vehicle Energy (Hitachi Vehicle Energy) for mass production by the end of 2009.
2. Lithium continued expansion of production capacity
Rockwood, SQM, FMC and production companies lithium accounted for about 3 / 4, some of China’s lithium production of small producers account for about 1 / 4. SQM produces about 35% of the global supply of lithium carbonate. Rockwood Corporation, through its business unit of specialty chemicals Chemetall produces about 30% of lithium carbonate on the planet, while the production accounts of FMC for approximately 5% ~ 10%.
In 2009, the world’s resources in lithium consumption of 8 million tonnes, is expected to five years later, the United States alone 10 million lithium-electric cars, the demand would consume resources of 100,000 tons of lithium. Since 2005, the soaring price of lithium over 10 million yuan per tonne in November 2009 rose to over 60 million yuan per tonne.
In 2008, production of lithium in the world (equivalent lithium carbonate) estimated at 8 million tons / year. The status quo of the global industry of lithium carbonate, the threshold of significant resources, capacity is highly concentrated. At the end of 2008, global demand for lithium carbonate for a total of approximately 95,000 tons, a major international manufacturers have SQM in Chile, the United States and Germany, the total capacity Chemtall CME year of 79,000 tons, powerbook g4 15 inch battery , representing 80% of global market share. The large-scale production of lithium carbonate as the company needs to have reserves of lithium resources are more abundant in salt lake resources, mineral rights, which makes the resources of industry with higher barriers to entry, on the other hand, the vast majority of the world’s resources are high in salt magnesium low base of lithium, and high-Mg low separation of brine lithium carbonate lithium technology process purification is very difficult to control before such technology is only a few hands of foreign companies, making the industry of lithium carbonate, but also provides many technical obstacles. Therefore, lithium carbonate has created the oligopoly structure of global industry.
Lithium mainly from three suppliers, “Lithium Triangle” (Argentina, Bolivia and Chile) to produce brine deposits of lithium. SQM and companies Rockwood Salar de Atacama region of Chile production of lithium, the advantage of lithium at high concentrations and high evaporation rate in the production process may be using solar energy. In addition to outside of South America, companies are Rockwood U. S. Silver Peak, Nevada, brine produced by lithium.
FMC Corporation from Salar de Hombre Muerto in Argentina storage brine produced lithium, a filtration process, filtering process faster but more expensive than other processes.
Previously, Li Li-Hui career sediment extract. Through this process, however, occur because purity is low, requiring several extraction steps and is energy-intensive process. China is now used only from spodumene to produce a large number of lithium carbonate.
Storage Capacity of South America is increasing. SQM is now the production capacity of lithium carbonate from 3 million tons / year in the third quarter of 2008, expanded to nearly 4 million tons / year. If market demand is strong, it will be extended to be able to 6 million tons / year.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia has a lithium-store approximately 550 million tons.
Admiralty Resources Inc. plans to develop north of Rincon Salara Argentina extended extraction brine, the mine has an equivalent of lithium carbonate from 10.5 thousand tons. All offers World production of lithium carbonate is about 20%. The goal now is to start production in 2009. 50 tons / year average system was commissioned in April 2008.
Currently the “Li-triangle” of production of lithium is always a great advantage of economic cost. However, higher prices contribute to the development of lithium storage outside of South America. Nordic Mining Company of Norway through the acquisition of lithium-development projects in Finland, Europe’s leading lithium carbonate for industrial battery manufacturers. The company expects production in 2013 in Finland, 3300 tons / year of lithium carbonate. Esmeralda County, inspiron 6400 battery , Nevada, United States, presented the perspectives for the development of the mine brine lithium, the Black Pearl will be developed in mining companies, including California, Nevada and Utah, Great Basin, which mine brine lithium.
The first 20 years, Chinese manufacturers have also implemented this increase. China in 2007, total global market for lithium is about 1 / 4. 2 to 5 years, China will be able to significantly increase its production capacity is expected to have more than doubled.
Lithium-ion source of raw materials in our very extensive. China is one of resources of lithium in the world, the power, especially in the salt lake in Qinghai and Tibet, a large number of lithium resources, development of Salt Lake, not only low-cost lithium - ion to provide raw materials, but also conducive to the development of the western region. At the same time, manganese, iron, vanadium and phosphorus rich resources in China. Synchronous motor permanent magnet with a small size, light weight and high performance features, but China is a large country of rare earth permanent magnetic materials for lithium-electric cars, provided that the hardware warranty.
China has been found in the Qaidam Basin, mine brine lithium, but the concentration of the brine mining Chinese small, so that China-made lithium-price the company SQM, and Rockwood doubled.
Lithium Salt Lake in the independent R & D, which provides technology and production process of magnesium on the basis of a number of large industrial enterprises in China in recent years in the depths of the Qaidam Basin Zabuye Salt Lake and start build lithium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide and other chemicals production base. latitude d800 battery , The current national production companies lithium carbonate mainly in Tibet, mining, CITIC Guoan, Western Mining Group, Qinghai Salt Lake Group, the four companies, while the extraction of Tibet CITIC Guoan accounted for the vast majority, the two companies in 2008, lithium carbonate Total production over 4000 tons.
October 12, 2009, Japan, Toyota Tsusho Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Toyota Tsusho) and China CITIC Guoan Information Industry Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as CITIC Guoan) have signed a letter of intent, both parties will cooperate in the production and sale of battery lithium carbonate grade and downstream products. Toyota Tsusho is the Toyota Group in automotive related company trading business, CITIC Guoan is a subsidiary of listed company CITIC Group, the West has now taijnar Qinghai Salt Lake, an area of 570 square kilometers, is a lithium liquid based mining of large deposits of lithium carbonate in resources highlighted. This is another signal that the competition was a new energy vehicles to advance upstream resources.
China’s Tibet Autonomous Region of the Economic Commission announced in late August 2008, Tibet will expand the resource base of the largest of China Lithium Zabuye Salt Lake, their investments will reach 1.084 billion yuan. After completion of the project, annual sales revenue of 639 million yuan, profits and taxes 200 million yuan. The expansion project would be a lithium salt and 5,000 tons / year based on the construction of the lithium salt of 2 million tons / year, 5,000 tons of lithium chloride per year, lithium 500 tons / year, 200 tonnes of high purity lithium / year, material lithium 30 tons / year, and other lithium compounds, 490 tons / production capacity this year. Salt Lake Zabuye Zhongba County, Shigatse in Tibet, it is the world’s known resources of more than three megatons Lithium is one of the great salt lake, the brine surface, intergranular brine and solid mineral include carbonate Lithium, sony vgp-bps9 , total reserves of up to 2.4663 million tons. Which only the surface to control the economic base of brine reserves reached 704.1 thousand tons, the amount of lithium resources in China ranks first.
Statistics show that the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet is located in the Qaidam Basin, rich in potassium, sodium, magnesium, lithium, boron and other mineral resources, including magnesium chloride 3.1 billion tons, representing about 99% of the country to maintain reserves, lithium chloride nearly 14 million tonnes, representing 83% of countries maintain reserves. In early 2007, human West taijnar Qinghai CITIC Guoan Technology Development Corporation-Project tons of lithium carbonate was officially put into production in Qaidam Basin, the taijnar West Lake has become an important production base for carbonate lithium.
In addition, the largest China has a wealth of brine magnesium high ratio between lithium treatment in May will be more complex.
A alleged that hybrid electric vehicles or pure electric vehicle batteries and other applications of lithium demand will continue to grow. At the current demand for speed, world supply would meet in 1775, the Salar de Atacama in Chile was 6.9 million tonnes of recoverable lithium, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia has 5.5 million tons of lithium recoverable.
Lithium Jiangxi Province New Energy and Industrial Base, November 17, 2009 in Jiangxi Province, Yichun city park open. The nation of the first base of the lithium battery industry, Yichun play three years of its lithium carbonate caused by the largest production base in Asia, five power one year period play caused by the lithium the largest production base in China. Yichun, Jiangxi province has the largest in the world is mine lithium is now proven recoverable reserves of lithium oxide is 110 million tonnes, representing 31% of the country, representing 12% of the world, and good use of resources, Yichun’s “Lithium industry is incredibly. inspiron 1501 battery, It is understood that the lithium battery of the first industrial country basis, the planning area of 20 square kilometers (30,000 acres), there are already new energy sources in the United States, the Chinese house, Foster and other energy projects in more than 20 lithium-signed enrollment contracts signed in funding over 10 billion yuan. Lithium cope with future development of the industry is expected to development objectives is divided into three stages: 2009 ~ 2012, output power, lithium energy industries and new endeavor to 8.0 billion before the end of 2012, 2013 and 2015, industry lithium CLP new energy begins to take shape, and seek the year before the end of 2015, the production value of 300 billion yuan from 2016 to 2020, formed a relatively complete set of cluster energy lithium new industry, and we’re trying to break the end of 2020 the output value of 100 billion yuan the previous year.