Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets, CFDs, OTC options or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

67% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

  • Industry spotlight
  • electric vehicles
  • lithium
  • robotics

Can carmakers line up with lithium stocks to boost EV battery performance and sustainability?

While EVs are rightly praised for their emission-reducing qualities and widely accepted as the future of the car industry, the environmental impact and limitations of lithium-ion batteries, such as the use of finite metals like cobalt, remains an issue. As a result, lithium stocks are putting in a huge amount of research and development into this area. 

As a sector, lithium stocks have performed well over the last 12 months. The Lithium & Battery Tech theme, represented by the Global X Lithium Battery Tech ETF [LIT], is the second-best performer on our ETF performance screener over the last year, rising 169.94% (as of 30 March).

So, what do some of the future developments in the lithium battery space look like?

 

NAWA Technologies reveals EV battery innovation

France-based NAWA Technologies unveiled the next generation of carbon battery last October: the Ultra Fast Carbon Electrode. The technology, which could be in production in the next two years, “has enormous potential to provide a  quantum leap in the performance of all batteries,  particularly lithium-ion”, say NAWA. The private enterprise, created in 2013, develops new solutions to improve energy conversion, storage, transport and efficiency, using “abundant, accessible and naturally occurring” carbon.

The carbon electrode is capable of boosting battery power tenfold, increasing energy storage by a factor of three and the lifecycle of a battery fivefold, reports Pocket-lint editor, Chris Hall. The end result? A reduction in the carbon footprint and cost of battery production, while also boosting performance.

A range of 1,000km could become the norm for EVs, with a charge to 80% in five minutes. The technology could be in production in 2023, says Hall. In November, the company launched NAWA America in Ohio, as it adds to its capability in multifunctional composites targeted at a range of sectors.

 

SVOLT unveils cobalt-free batteries for EVs

Headquartered in Changzhou, China, SVOLT Energy Technology has created the “next-generation lithium-ion batteries”: cobalt-free batteries. These batteries could result in ranges around 500 miles, as well as reducing dependence on a scarce commodity, lengthening battery life and enhancing safety.

SVOLT, which became fully independent from Chinese automobile manufacturer Great Wall Motors [601633] in 2018, has also said it's working with a large European manufacturer, reports Hall. Perhaps the manufacturer in question is based in Germany, after the company revealed plans to build a power battery plant in Saarland, Germany, in November. The plant will include a module-pack factory scheduled to start production in mid-2022, and a cell-module factory ready to begin production at the end of 2023, reports Argus Media.

 

IBM's seawater battery outperforms lithium-ion

IBM [IBM] Research has discovered a new battery chemistry, free from nickel and cobalt, which could outperform lithium-ion. IBM’s research and development division say the materials can be extracted from seawater, and use a chemical never previously used in a battery.

In a blog, IBM Research said that, in addition to the sustainability benefits, “it proved it can be optimised to surpass the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries in a number of individual categories, including lower costs, faster charging time, higher power and energy density, strong energy efficiency and low flammability”, in initial tests.

IBM Research is working with Mercedes-Benz [DAI], battery electrolyte supplier Central Glass [TOY:4044] and battery manufacturer Sidus Energy to turn the technology into a viable commercial battery, though the project is still in an “exploratory phase”.

 

Sila Nanotechnologies’ sand battery improves battery life

California-based energy storage firm Sila Nanotechnologies has created an alternative type of lithium-ion battery using silicon, which achieves three times’ better performance than current graphite lithium-ion batteries, boosting battery performance and lifespan. The lithium stock start-up, founded in 2011, has “seen big investment from companies like Daimler and BMW [BMW]”, reports Hall. Sila’s solution is scalable, because it can be dropped into existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing setups, and could enhance battery performance by 40% in the near future.

There are many more technologies being developed by a host of lithium battery stocks, while a number of global battery manufacturers, including SVOLT, are investing in domestic production bases across Europe. The next year or two look promising for continued innovation and take up by established carmakers of increasingly sustainable technologies in the lithium and battery tech sector.

Disclaimer Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

CMC Markets is an execution-only service provider. The material (whether or not it states any opinions) is for general information purposes only, and does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by CMC Markets or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

The material has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. Although we are not specifically prevented from dealing before providing this material, we do not seek to take advantage of the material prior to its dissemination.

CMC Markets does not endorse or offer opinion on the trading strategies used by the author. Their trading strategies do not guarantee any return and CMC Markets shall not be held responsible for any loss that you may incur, either directly or indirectly, arising from any investment based on any information contained herein.

*Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and can change or may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.

Continue reading for FREE

Latest articles