Mobile Electronics and Electric Vehicles are Driving Demand for Lithium
The phenomenal growth of mobile electronics is fueling demand for lithium. Cell phones and laptop computers are some of the most sought after products in the world and they are both powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium is powering the wireless world and wireless communications are driving the enormous demand for Lithium. Lithium is a crucial component of the $65.7 billion cell phone industry. Last year one billion cell phones were sold around the world each one powered by lithium.
Wireless communications include popular international mega-brands like iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. These are products with huge, ever-increasing demand, last year there were 50 million Blackberries sold and iPhone sales increased over 600 percent. Cell phone producers reliant on lithium include companies like Nokia, Motorola, SamSung, and Sony/Ericson.
Laptop computers are another major source of lithium demand. The 177 million laptops sold last year eclipsed PC sales for the first time. The growth of mobile electronics reflects a general trend towards mobile sources of power. There are a variety of other technologies that are powered by lithium batteries like Apple’s iPod and iPad.
Blue-chip companies are investing in lithium because they know that for the foreseeable future lithium-ion batteries will provide the energy for all the most popular mobile electronics. This makes lithium one of the greatest wealth making opportunities of the century.
Lithium is also the key ingredient in the power plant of electric cars. Lithium batteries are the fundamental technology which makes the transition to electric cars possible.
Public Broadcasting (PBS) has said that, “Lithium is a metal which may soon make our old-fashioned, oil-dependent vehicle obsolete.” Technology Review reveals,”Lithium batteries are driving a renaissance in electric vehicle development.”
Lithium battery powered electric vehicles come in a range of sizes and configurations from tiny unicycles to large transport trucks. Toyota’s Prius is a well known hybrid vehicle that has been a commerical success for years followed by Honda’s Insight. Nissan recently inaugurated an affordable vehicle called the Leaf and most car makers have already released hybrids in a range of classes from subcompact to SUV.
After investing one billion dollars, General Motors is coming out with the highly anticipated electric car called the Volt. With the help of Lithium batteries, GM estimates that the Volt can get 230 miles per gallon.
BusinessWeek magazine says, “Large and niche automotive makers are declaring the electric car the vehicle of the future…” The Financial Post reports, “people are realizing there are going to be an awful lot of lithium batteries used in electric vehicles.”
The Wharton Business School raves about the electric car saying “the global impact would be enormous.” The BBC reported that Mitsubishi, which is releasing its own electric car, estimates that the demand for Lithium will outstrip supply.
The coming explosion in electric vehicles makes Lithium a sound investment.