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CRU: Chinese EV sales hit hard by COVID-19 outbreak, but only for short-term

Green Car Congress

The COVID-19 has hit the Chinese EV sector hard; CRU, a provider of business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries, believes that weak sales will last at least until early Q2 2020. Nonetheless, it continues to forecast Chinese EV sales growth in 2020 over 2019’s total.

Chinese 221
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The $10,000 BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

Teslarati

Although competitive Chinese automaker BYD isn’t yet slated to enter the U.S. Even despite ongoing political concerns, its entry into North America is considered an eventuality, and other Chinese automakers likely won’t be far behind. auto industry appeared first on TESLARATI. auto sector,” the organization writes.

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Roskill: Yahua-Tesla deal indicative of increasing capability and numbers of Chinese lithium convertors

Green Car Congress

On 29 December 2020, Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group announced thatits subsidiary, Yahua Lithium, had signed a five-year supply agreement with Tesla. Yahua Lithium commissioned the Ya’an plant in May 2020 with 20ktpy of capacity for battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

Chinese 305
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Roskill: Niobium industry looking for a future beyond steel; Li-ion batteries a possibility

Green Car Congress

Niobium is a metal primarily used by the steel industry as a ferroalloy strengthening element. Adding niobium reduces the amount and weight of steel required, an important feature for the automotive industry but also for infrastructure. Another key characteristic of the niobium market is its highly concentrated supply.

Li-ion 378
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BloombergNEF annual battery price survey finds prices fell 6% from 2020 to 2021

Green Car Congress

This marks a 6% drop from $140/kWh in 2020. Continuing cost reductions bode well for the future of electric vehicles; however, the impact of rising commodity prices and increased costs for key materials such as electrolytes has put pressure on the industry in the second half of the year.

Price 469
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LME copper prices hit 7-year high

Green Car Congress

On 4 December 2020, the LME cash price hit its highest level since March 2013, closing at US$7,742/t. (By Copper has charted an unlikely trajectory through 2020, notes Roskill. Copper prices since 1 Jan 2020. Underlying Chinese consumption is actually performing much better than most analysts believe, Roskill said.

Price 541
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Chinese steel group Tsingshan investing $375M to build lithium plant in Argentina with Eramet

Green Car Congress

Eramet will thus become the first European company to operate a sustainable and large-capacity lithium industrial complex: we take pride in this project and see an opportunity for Europe’s sovereignty to secure tomorrow’s critical metals. 3,500/t LCE EXW), with large-scale drainable resources (nearly 10 Mt LCE).

Argentina 335