Lithium Rush: Daimler Acquires Lithium-ion Battery Maker TSLA ILC.v TNR.v LIT KNDI BYDDF

 Germans are getting into Electric Cars seriously now and joining the Lithium Rush to secure the supply chain for the Electric Revolution. They are pretty much behind Nissan and Tesla Motors in any market presence and were very cautious so far. Elon Musk talks already about the new Lithium Batteries to be made at Tesla Gigafactory with 400 miles range for Tesla Model S and Model X and Tesla Model E coming out in 2015 with 200 miles range and $35k price tag!
  German automakers were very slow with the real advance into the Electric Spase. We had a lot of very flashy models, but until BMW produced BMW i3 and BMW i8 nothing serious was on the market. Daimler particularly has invested billions in Hydrogen technology at the turn of the century with Ballard Power and all German automakers were betting on "Clean Diesel". How clean is any diesel WHO has told all of us with the warning that cancer and heart deceases are spreading everywhere due to air pollution. German boardrooms have taken notice.
  Things were slowly changing towards Electrification and Daimler has produced underpowered Smart EV in some numbers, bought the stake in Tesla Motors with Toyota and advance its J/V programs with Chinese BYD. Denza - Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Company is making headlines these days with its program with ABB to launch the "World's Largest Electric Car Charging Network" in China. Electric Mercedes B Class  was on Top Gear and Mercedes-B SLS AMG Electric presented at the top of this entry is the latest Green brand making statement.
  Now we should follow more closely developments in China for Denza and this move from Daimler is stressing out one more time the importance of Vertically Integrated Lithium Batteries Supply Chain in the eyes of major automakers. We are following one such business in the making here with Ganfeng Lithium from China and International Lithium from Canada and will provide a few links for you to study it.

International Lithium: Ganfeng Lithium Is Halted Pending Major Acquisition ILC.v TNR.v LIT TSLA KNDI

"We are following International Lithium here with its strategic partner from China Ganfeng Lithium. Elon Musk with his Tesla Gigafactory has brought a lot of attention to the Lithium strategic commodity story and Asian companies are coming into the spotlight as well now. LG Chem is talking about building major Lithium battery plant in China and Lithium Materials Industry is getting the green light from the Chinese government in its efforts to curb the horrible pollution.

"Kirill Klip, president of International Lithium (TSXV:ILC), views the announcement of Tesla’s Gigafactory as a “groundbreaking development.”

Tesla “brought attention to what Elon Musk has accomplished,” Klip told Lithium Investing News. “He showed to everyone that electric cars are not toys anymore — they are for real.”

International Lithium's Strategic Partner, Ganfeng Lithium, Takes Large Stake in Mariana and a $10 million Option on the Blackstairs Projects ILC.v TNR.v LIT

  "Mar 19, 2014 (ACCESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Vancouver, B.C. / ACCESSWIRE / March - 2014 / International Lithium Corp. (the "Company" or "ILC") announces several major transactions with strategic partner GFL International Co., Ltd. ("Ganfeng Lithium" or "GFL")." 

Yahoo:

Daimler acquires lithium-ion battery maker

BERLIN (AP) — Automaker Daimler AG is acquiring the remaining shares in a lithium-ion battery cell maker from specialty chemical company Evonik Industries AG as it intensifies its focus on electric cars.

Lithium Drive: China Rolls Out The World's Largest Electric Car Charging Network ILC.v TNR.V TSLA LIT

  We have another groundbreaking development for Electric Cars and Lithium Industry - in China this time. BYD, Daimler and ABB are rolling out the world's largest charging network. One more piece of the puzzle is getting into its place to make the electric cars mass market reality in China. Apple and Tesla are igniting the buzz about Electric Cars again and the real business very quietly acquires the assets with strategic commodities for the electric revolution.
  Lithium industry will get another boost with this leap forward and Lithium supply will gain its strategic value. Ganfeng Lithium is already among top world lithium materials producers and its new production facilities will increase Lithium output in China for the battery industry.  Company is very active in building its supply chain with Canada based International Lithium with its projects in Ireland, Argentina and Canada.

Lithium Drive: Is Apple Working on An iCar With Tesla? ILC.v TNR.v TSLA AAPL LIT

"Social media is buzzing about the prospects of Apple and Tesla merger or cooperation on iCar or Tesla Model E or at least on the giant Lithium battery plant in the making. CNBC is picking up the story as well today. We continue to monitor this development and its potential implications for the Electric Cars and Lithium batteries industries. Can Apple and Tesla make mass market for Electric Cars reality in a few short years - most definitely. Will it ever happen - it remains to be seen. But these ideas are not so far fetched according to the  Bloomberg report from May of last year:

Elon Musk on Tesla Merger Prospects: Apple Has "a Lot of Cash"

Lithium Catalyst: Apple Electric iCar Coming From Tesla? ILC.v TNR.v AAPL TSLA

   "It will not take much to ignite Lithium Bull again - just four words will do: China, Pollution, Tesla and Apple. We have written extensively about three of them before and now we can have the groundbreaking development with Apple thinking about joining the Electric Party.
  Will Steve Jobs' Apple iCar Dream finally come to reality with Tesla? Mickey Drexler was talking about his friend: "Steve's dream before he died was to design an iCar". Tesla Motors and Elon Musk have proven that Electric Cars are for real: technology is here - we just need the mass market.
  We are talking here about the reality distortion field worthwhile Steve Jobs memory. Billions of Apple cash and Tesla's technology can make the miracle and take the market by storm with Tesla Model E for electric cars mass market made years ahead.
  Lithium investment theme will fit very well with this conglomerate. Lithium batteries are everywhere: in every Apple mobile devise, in every Tesla electric car. It is not a coincidence that Tesla is preparing plans to build super Lithium battery plant. All these plans: Tesla Model X launch, Tesla Model E for mass market development and Lithium Battery plant will need a lot of Capital and Apple has it. Is it the match made in heaven? We will see very soon, but investors are better take notice about this trend already."

Lithium Drive: China To Extend Subsidies On Electric Cars Past 2015 TSLA, ILC.v, TNR.v, LIT, RM.v

 "We have another confirmation that China takes Electric Cars very seriously and we can expect now further transfer of technology to Chinese based electric cars production facilities. Subsidies will apply only to Electric Cars produces in China, according to some reports. Tesla move into China will highlight the new technology again and with pollution scare it will get the spotlight of the Chinese media. Tesla Supercharges will be the real game changer for the electric cars mass market."

Lithium Drive: Tesla Model S - Driving Coast To Coast TSLA, ILC.v, TNR.v, LIT, RM.v

"Electric Cars are not toys any more and Tesla Model S has demonstrated its reliability in all conditions during this trip. The implementation of the Superchargers network is the game changer for Electric Cars and Tesla Motors is the solid leader in technology here. 

  The next step in the world-wide expansion will be UK and China. In both countries we have a lot of momentum now. Next few years can allow the company to take by the storm the high premium markets in both countries and roll out its Supercharger infrastructure. The new Tesla model for mass market electric cars will be coming in on the prepared ground to make this revolution for real.

  We were quite a few years ahead in a lot of our expectations for electric cars and now can see how this groundbreaking technology is bearing its fruit. Time is to dust off our Lithium darlings, which are still below the radars of investment crowd."

Lithium Drive: Beijing To Fight Air Pollution By Making 40% Of All New Cars Hybrids ILC.v, TNR.v, LIT, RM.v

"Electric Cars will be the logical solution for China's pollution problems. At least with urban mobility electric cars can dramatically improve the air quality very fast. For years critics were pointing out that electricity is produced in China in large percentage by the coal power plants, the latest Party Plenum has taken the clear path towards greener electricity sources: natural gas, nuclear, wind and solar. 

  Now the only thing left out is the reliable technology to put the real electric cars for mass market on the roads. All major electric cars players are already presented in China: Nissan, GM, Ford, Toyota. Home grown BYD is making its way with electric proposition and taking the market of Electric Buses now. Tesla Motors is already selling Model S in China and there are reports that this electric car can be produced in China as well. Kandi with its concept of electric cars for rent from the vending machine is another very important development. We are talking here not only about Beijing and Shanghai, but more than 160 cities in China with population over 1 million people.

  Now China again makes the bold move into the electric space and its lithium batteries and lithium materials industry is making very big progress under the radar screens of general investors. We are following here Ganfeng Lithium and International Lithium and they are getting into the interesting development stage of this cycle now with UK promoting electric cars and China coming back in this high stake technology game with the new force."

 "China is literally chocking with pollution and electric cars are the obvious solution for urban mobility over there. Lithium developers are out of market favour now, but wait when investors will connect the dots again. Ganfeng Lithium is already the market leader in China in the lithium strategic supply chain and  extending its raw material base with International Lithium strategic partnership. Today's news from UK are putting new perspective to International Lithium 10 million J/V development partnership in Ireland with Ganfeng Lithium. 

  From International Lithium Annual General Meeting:

"Mr. Kirill Klip stated, "We are working to advance our Blackstairs Lithium project early in 2014 under the ten million dollar joint venture with strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. ("GFL"). We are also working with GFL on a corporate structure that will enable the companies to move forward on the Mariana lithium-potash brine project in Argentina."

International Lithium: Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium to Raise $81.5 Mln via Private Placement ILC.v, TNR.v, LIT

"Now Ganfeng Lithium has the capital to advance its development programs with International Lithium. Once the tax loss selling will be over International Lithium should enjoy better market perception with further advance of Lithium properties in Ireland, Argentina and Canada. Ganfeng Lithium production facilities development shows China's appetite for strategic commodities for electric revolution in order to make transportation and personal mobility still possible after recent pollution scare."

Space Daily:

World's largest EV fast charger network in China

by Staff WritersZurich, Switzerland (SPX) Feb 18, 2014

File image.

ABB has announced a strategic collaboration today with Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology to supply direct current fast chargers over the next six years for DENZA. China will become the global leader for electric vehicle (EV) fast charging.

The wall-mounted chargers will have a number of innovations designed for user convenience and safety, such as a mobile app that allows remote monitoring and control of charging sessions, with the option of charging status change notifications. First deliveries are expected in mid- 2014. The charging solution will be sold through DENZA dealerships along with the vehicle.

EVs are one of China's seven emerging strategic industries. ABB and DENZA will work together to help support China's efforts to increase sustainable mobility.

The Chinese government has introduced a direct current (DC) fast charging "GBT" standard to encourage technical innovation and stimulate market acceptance of EVs. The urban charging infrastructure will be a key driver for EV adoption. The GBT standard will give Chinese consumers the opportunity to conveniently charge their vehicles at home or at public charging stations. Public DC fast charging is expected to be rolled out in China in the near future.

"We are honored to be a partner in this venture to move urban transportation forward in a more sustainable way. By combining car sales with fast chargers, DENZA is taking a bold step to address a key obstacle for potential buyers of EVs," said Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO of ABB Group.

"ABB's EV charging solutions have been expanding rapidly worldwide as the underlying technology combines our key strengths in power electronics, software, service and power distribution."

The fully electric DENZA car is designed for journeys of more than 200 kilometers and is among the first long-range EVs to go on sale in China. Market research shows that consumers value long-range EVs, but expect short charging times. DENZA will offer its customers the convenience of fast charging at home, at work or at public charging stations.

"The DENZA represents a significant step in sustainable transportation for the Chinese automotive market. It was vital that we had the right partner to support this innovative concept," said Arno Roehringer, COO of BDNT.

"ABB is the ideal technology partner for us, and - equally important - it has the service expertise to install this solution."

China's EV market is expected to quickly gain momentum in the coming years due to technology and market innovations, the GBT national fast-charging standard and favorable incentives. ABB has worked on pilot projects with local OEMs and utilities in China since 2010. In 2013, it began to build up a local EV organization to support this growth including R and D, manufacturing, logistics, and service.

Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. is a joint venture established by BYD Auto, a leader in China's EV industry, and Daimler AG, one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world's biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles with a global reach. The joint venture, established in 2010, concentrates on R and D in new energy automotive technologies and specializes in supplying high-quality, eco-friendly new energy vehicles that are safe and convenient to use. DENZA will have its world premiere at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show."

Please Note our Legal Disclaimer on the Blog, including, but Not limited to:

There are NO Qualified Persons among the authors of this blog as it is defined by NI 43-101, we were NOT able to verify and check any provided information in the articles, news releases or on the links embedded on this blog; you must NOT rely in any sense on any of this information in order to make any resource or value calculation, or attribute any particular value or Price Target to any discussed securities.

We Do Not own any content in the third parties' articles, news releases, videos or on the links embedded on this blog; any opinions - including, but not limited to the resource estimations, valuations, target prices and particular recommendations on any securities expressed there - are subject to the disclosure provided by those third parties and are NOT verified, approved or endorsed by the authors of this blog in any way.

Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advice on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company.