The rapid development of new energy vehicles led to competition for lithium resources, making the car prices can no longer be the same as before, only vehicle manufacturing, car companies if the development of new energy is not constrained, you must start from the source of raw materials. And this The world's lithium resource war wars will only intensify, after all, lithium resources are non-renewable resources, who start out the more you can in this 'war' in the initiative.
The occasional vibration of a butterfly's wing in the Amazon rainforest may trigger a tornado in Texas, USA, two weeks later. "I believe many people are familiar with this description, which is about butterfly effects Intuitive explanation. Nowadays the description of the butterfly effect has covered all aspects of life.
Among them, the most typical in the automobile industry is the impact of the development of new energy vehicles on the world automobile industry, in particular, the rapid development of new energy vehicles in China has already created a "big battle" against the world's lithium resources.
December 3, according to the Japanese media reported that China has become the world's new energy vehicle battery raw materials, lithium resource demand for the country.With the rapid growth of China's sales of new energy vehicles, China's new energy vehicles for lithium battery raw materials demand has led to global lithium resources Raw material prices, while rising raw material prices have caused panic in lithium resources in major regions of the world, including auto brands own brands and Volkswagen, including the layout of the upstream industries of raw materials.
Data show that China's sales of new energy vehicles in 2016 was 50.7 million units increased 53% year-on-year, ranking first in the world.According to the Chinese Automobile Association data show that in the first 10 months of this year, China's production of new energy vehicles has reached 490,000, an increase 45.4% over the same period the United States in the first ten months of new energy sales totaled 157,000, there is no suspense this year, China's new energy vehicle sales will once again re-ranked first in the world.
The rapid development of new energy vehicles in China has brought a series of chain reactions to the whole industrial chain, which is even more obvious in the battery of the "Three Electricity" of the new energy vehicles. If the electric motor and the electric control are more dependent on the technology, In addition to relying on the technical aspects of the dependence on raw materials is particularly tremendous.
From the current development trend of electric car battery, the mainstream of electric cars on the market to use more lithium batteries, such as the typical representative, BYD e6 with lithium iron phosphate batteries, Tesla with ternary lithium batteries, Kai Chen morning style Lithium manganese oxide batteries, and lithium batteries in the market accounted for nearly 7 percent.It is not difficult to see that lithium resources have become a key factor restricting the development of electric vehicles.
According to the data from the United States Geological Survey, China currently accounts for only 20% of the world's lithium reserves, but its consumption of lithium resources exceeds 40% of the world's total. The huge gap has led China to turn more attention overseas. Two-thirds of Lithium are concentrated in South America, with Chile alone accounting for half of the world's reserves. To ensure the supply of lithium resources, Chinese enterprises are stepping up the layout of the upstream industries for raw materials.
Not long ago, BAIC executives turned to Chile to start negotiations on the pre-Chilean Economic Development Board (Corfo), which has an influential role in resource development, with Beiqioling moving from lithium production, battery manufacturing to pure electric vehicle assembly Industrial Promotion Policy.
In addition, BYD also started to prepare for doing business in Chile.According to local media reports, BYD general manager of the business company in the region said: 'is exploring cooperation with local companies around lithium, but also plans to direct investment.' 'China Lithium Industry Chengdu Tianqi Industrial Group, a large enterprise, also contributed 2% to SQM, a large-scale global lithium producer.
South America extracted lithium ions from salt water
Chile, which has a wealth of reserves of lithium resources, does not seem to be fully satisfied with the thirst for lithium resources in the Chinese market, and it is understood that it is relatively time-consuming in South America to extract lithium from salt lakes mainly through the drying method. In contrast, Australia, which accounts for only 10% of the world's reserves, uses a method refined from ores, which is more productive than South America and accounts for 40% of the world's production. Chinese companies are also marching into Australia while targeting the South American market market.
Among them, Great Wall Motors announced on September 28 this year that the indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company billion new development Co., Ltd. intends to raise funds of 146 million yuan to acquire Pilbara Minerals does not exceed 3.5% of the shares and access to Pilgangoora lithium Underwriting rights of certain products in the project, of which the Great Wall will underwrite 75,000 tons of spodumene concentrate produced by Pilgangoora Lithium Mine Project according to the pricing stipulated by both parties. If Great Wall Motor provides 50% of the second-phase construction fund of the project Support, the spinel interests of spodumene concentrate can be increased to 150,000 tons / year is expected to begin in the first half of 2020 supply.
Prior to that, China Tianqi Industrial also acquired Australia's Talison Lithium, which is mainly engaged in R & D, production and sales of lithium series products.
Cobalt containing metal ore
Of course, at this point, in addition to Chinese companies have some action, multinationals also start with raw materials.With the Great Wall Motor acquisition of lithium in Australia at the same time, the Volkswagen Group to exceed 50 billion euros to the relevant industries to buy metal cobalt Business plan, the purpose is to advance stockpile cobalt metal, to ensure the future development of the Group's long-term supply of lithium batteries. But no progress has been reported on the news.
The most important point that can cause the world to "grab a lithium resource war" is the most important point of China's new energy vehicle policy.According to the Chinese government issued a new medium and long-term energy planning, and the introduction of 'double integration' policy which will further stimulate or force According to the requirements, the sales volume of new energy vehicles in China will reach 7 million by 2025. As the world's largest automobile market, the changes in the Chinese market will have a close chain reaction to the world automobile industry chain. According to the survey by Japanese companies Fuji Economy predicts that in 2016 the global battery market will reach 84 billion yuan and will increase to 396 billion yuan in 2025.
Such a huge market size, making the car prices can no longer be the same as before, only car products can be manufactured, car companies if they want to develop new energy constraints are not constrained, you must start from the source of raw materials. And the world's lithium war plunder After fiercer, after all, lithium resources are non-renewable resources, who start out the more you can in this 'war' in the initiative.