New Lithium Technology Promises 30% to 50% Longer Battery Life
LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --
FN Media Group Presents USA News Group News Commentary
In a boon for lithium power, researchers have built a prototype lithium ion battery that could last 30 to 50 percent longer than any battery on the market. The news comes at a time when demand for lithium supplies are now forecasting a shortfall as early as the end of 2018.
Lithium companies are benefiting from the push for global competition including NRG Metals Inc. (TSX: NGZ) (OTC: NRGMF), Pilbara Minerals Ltd (OTC: PILBF), Neo Lithium Corporation (TSX: NLC) (OTC: NTTHF), and Galaxy Resources (OTC: GALXF).
The limitations in capacity and longevity have held back electric vehicle adoption for many years and only significant progress in addressing these issues has finally brought about the current breakthroughs. Apple have been subject to public embarrassment following revelations that they intentionally slowed down old phones in order to make them keep up with degrading batteries. Upcoming research developments could help to overcome these problems once and for all and lead to even faster proliferation of lithium batteries.
One new source for lithium may be NRG Metals Inc. (TSX: NGZ) (OTCMKTS: NRGMF). That junior miner is developing potentially huge lithium brine project in South America's well known lithium triangle. The lithium trend also has other major lithium miners working full speed in order to bring on greater supplies of the valuable metal including Pilbara Minerals Ltd (OTC: PILBF), Neo Lithium Corporation (TSX: NLC) (OTCQX: NTTHF), and Galaxy Resources (OTC: GALXF).
Virtually all lithium-focused producers are seeing heightened activity and price rises at this point.
LONGER LIFE LITHIUM WOULD BE A HELP
The obvious downside to the new lithium driven energy boom is battery life. But new advancements to prolong li-ion battery life are really changing the landscape. One of the notable developments is at the University of Akron, where researchers have built a prototype for a lithium ion battery that could last 30 to 50 percent longer than any battery on the market.
The lead researcher on the project Dr. Yu Zhu explains that the improvements come from the materials that bind the electrodes together. In conventional batteries where polymer binding material is used, the cells only last for 10 to 20 cycles. With the new prototype, the battery can cycle for thousands of cycles without depleting in capacity. The technology used in Zhu's project is a groundbreaking development given that little has changed in li-ion technology for the past three decades.
The developers hope to scale up their prototype, which at the moment is the size of a coin, so that it can be used in smartphones and other bigger applications. The Akron battery could hit the market in as little as two years, but the market will not be short of competitors.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research are working on a li-ion battery that could double current storage capacity and lower the weight of the battery. At the Northwestern University, in collaboration with Argonne National Labs, researchers are hoping for a breakthrough on a rechargeable battery, which may be capable of extending cellphone battery life by a factor of eight. The efficiency improvements in battery technologies will also see a proliferation of large scale storage facilities such as the ones Tesla has unveiled in Australia and Puerto Rico.
MOVING TO MEET DEMAND: JUNIORS CATCH THE WAVE
This unique climate has created a significant opportunity for all lithium companies. A likely scenario that will become increasingly popular over the next few years is direct investment into junior lithium exploration companies. One of the early movers in that category is NRG Metals - A Canadian company committed to creating lithium resources.
NRG Metals, a start-up focused on the development of lithium brine assets in Argentina, has recently attracted a Chinese battery material producer through closing on a $1.4 million private placement to fund ongoing exploration activities in Argentina and the potential, as an Off-Take producer, for future lithium products extracted. The company has two projects, with the most significant project being the "Hombre Muerto North Project" or HMNP. HMNP is located in the Salta and Catamarca provinces and comprises a total property package of over 3,000 hectares encompassing six concessions.
The company has reported good surface sample collections, magnesium to lithium ratios, and is located across from Galaxy Resources' Sal de Vida lithium development project. Most importantly, the project is within 20km of FMC Corporation's well established Fenix lithium brine project. With an offtake agreement of this kind, it's possible that NRG Metals will sell lithium before it's even mined or at least provide a great asset value to the company.
LONGER LIFE LITHIUM NOT ENOUGH TO STEM THE TIDE
While the new battery innovations by the Akron Researchers and others are making huge strides in the quality and longevity of lithium battery technology, they are not near enough to offset the future need for lithium that is driving development. All these innovations, if they make it to market, are likely to lead to even higher acceptance rates of li-ion batteries.
And with lithium supplies already tight, the expected increase in demand will need massive infrastructure investment from mining concerns and juniors to bring more supply online. Increases in the price of lithium should continue to make such investments economically viable. In the process, investors in lithium mining activities stand to reap the gains, with lithium expected by some leading analysts to be bigger than copper by 2030.
POTENTIAL COMPARABLES
Pilbara Minerals Ltd (OTC: PILBF)
Pilbara Minerals is an emerging lithium and tantalum producer focused on the development of its world-class 100% owned Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project, located approximately 120kms from Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Pilgangoora has been confirmed as one of the largest spodumene (lithium pyroxene) and tantalite projects in the world and is set to be developed into one of the world's largest lithium mines, also producing tantalite as a valuable by-product.
Neo Lithium Corporation (TSX: NLC) (OTCQX: NTTHF)
Neo Lithium Corp. engages in the exploration and development of resource properties. The company explores for lithium deposits. It holds interests in the 3Q Project comprising 10 mining claims covering approximately 35,000 hectares located in Tinogasta area, Catamarca province, Argentina. The company has filed a Technical Report with Positive PEA Results on its 3Q Project Showing a Capital Cost reduction of US$98.5M. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is based in Toronto, Canada.
Galaxy Resources (OTC: GALXF)
Galaxy Resources Limited is a lithium-focused resources company, with assets spanning Australia, Canada and Argentina. Galaxy is currently advancing plans to develop the Sal de Vida Lithium and Potash Brine Project ("Sal de Vida") in Argentina, which is situated in the Lithium Triangle, a region where Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet. Sal de Vida is a proven high quality resource has excellent promise as a future low cost production facility. Galaxy also owns the Mt Cattlin Spodumene Mine near Ravensthorpe in Western Australia and the James Bay Lithium Pegmatite Project in Quebec, Canada.
For a more in-depth look into NGZ you can view the in-depth report at USA News Group: http://usanewsgroup.com/2018/03/12/analysts-predict-lithium-sector-is-growing-faster-than-any-other-sector-in-the-past-decade/
Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: This piece is an advertorial and has been paid for. This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. No information in this Report should be construed as individualized investment advice. A licensed financial advisor should be consulted prior to making any investment decision. We make no guarantee, representation or warranty and accept no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of USA News Group only and are subject to change without notice. USA News Group assumes no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission. Furthermore, we assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information, provided within this Report.
DISCLAIMER: USA News Group is Source of all content listed above. FN Media Group, LLC (FNM), is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with USA News Group or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by USA News Group are solely those of USA News Group and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release.
FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.
Media Contact Information:
FN Media Group, LLC
Media Contact
e-mail: editor@financialnewsmedia.com
U.S. Phone: +1(954)345-0611
Share this article