Posted by AGORACOM
at 8:40 AM on Tuesday, February 4th, 2020
Thunder Bay, Ontario–(February 4, 2020) – ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd.(TSXV: ZEN) (“ZEN” or the “Company“)
is pleased to announce the grand opening of its Guelph facility for
small scale pilot plant production and Research and Development.
James Jordan will be leading the work at the facility and is promoted
to the position of Chief Operating Officer. In other company human
resource review, Colin van der Kuur is now our Head of Research while
Monique Manaigre becomes our Senior Government Relations and Account
Manager.
Shares for Debt Settlement
ZEN announces the issuance of shares in connection with its
previously announced shares for debt agreement with Alphabet Creative.
The Company issued 47,222 common shares at a deemed price of $0.36 per
common share in settlement of a debt of $17,000 owed by the Company. The
common shares issued in connection with the shares for debt agreement
will be subject to a hold period until May 1, 2020 in accordance with
applicable securities laws.
About ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd.
ZEN is an emerging graphene technology solutions company with a focus
on the development of graphene-based nanomaterial products and
applications. The unique Albany Graphite Project provides the company
with a potential competitive advantage in the graphene market as
independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada have independently
demonstrated that ZEN’s Albany PureTM Graphite is an ideal precursor
material which easily converts (exfoliates) to graphene, using a variety
of mechanical, chemical and electrochemical methods.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 1:49 PM on Monday, February 3rd, 2020
SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals is focused on the exploration and development of minerals for the new green economy such as lithium and graphite. Lomiko owns 80% of the high-grade La Loutre graphite Property , Lac Des Iles Graphite Property and the 100% owned Quatre Milles Graphite Property. Lomiko is uniquely poised to supply the growing EV battery market. Click Here For More Information
Steady movement toward low-emission mobility is gaining more traction among manufacturers and consumers
Automakers are embracing electrification and racing toward innovation-driven electric vehicle (EV) models
Our planet’s health is receiving more attention than ever before –
and with good reason. In last October’s federal election, climate change
topped the list of issues that determined how the country voted.
Canadians are becoming more climate conscious, and the proof is in
the choices they make politically and as consumers. Recent events such
as the fires ravaging the Amazon and Australia have emphasized the need
to shift toward a clean-growth economy and, importantly, our collective
consciousness has turned to the economic opportunities this shift will
create. The road to a clean-growth economy is before us and innovation
will drive us there.
Among the many industries that have a major stake in this, the
automotive sector may present the most interesting opportunities in the
Canadian market specifically. The steady movement toward low-emission
mobility is gaining more traction among manufacturers and consumers
alike. Confronted with rising fuel costs and escalating environmental
crises, drivers are looking for options that produce fewer greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants.
A survey
last year by Toyota found 52 per cent of Canadians said they were
likely to buy an electrified vehicle in the next five years. But today,
EVs account for only 0.5 per cent of the 23 million passenger vehicles on Canadian roads.
Well aware of the room for growth, automakers are embracing
electrification and racing toward innovation-driven electric vehicle
(EV) models that they hope will lower costs and increase interest. Take
General Motors: The leading American car maker has announced it is “on
track†to meet its target of having 20 EVs in production by 2023. The
Volkswagen Group plans to build 22 million EVs by 2028 and wants 40 per
cent of its vehicle sales to be EVs by the end of the decade. And Ford
intends to boost its investments in EVs to US$11-billion by 2022. It is
also hoping to have 40 hybrid and fully electric vehicles in its model
lineup, according to chairman Bill Ford.
The auto sector is poised to transform into one with immense demand
for clean technology – and for renewable energy to power it. So, where
does Canada fit into this equation?
In this rapidly evolving industry, advanced battery materials will
emerge at the forefront of economic opportunity. Electric vehicles are
powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and the need for metal
components essential to EV battery production will grow alongside
consumer appetite. This is where Canada could and should enter the
picture.
Canada is rich in the ingredients needed for advanced battery
manufacturing and storage technology: lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt,
aluminum and manganese. From our natural resources to our highly
skilled workforce, Canada is poised to create a sustainable value chain
for battery materials and become a world leader in EV battery
manufacturing – but has it done enough to plant an early stake in this
burgeoning market?
It is not sufficient to have the raw materials. Without an ecosystem
that allows for the creation of a market and industry for batteries,
Canada cannot participate. This market’s potential needs to be
recognized and nurtured by regulators and mining companies. With
increased investment in sustainable materials production, Canada can
position itself as a top competitor in the global EV battery supply
chain. And, by producing the main component of EVs, Canada will secure
more opportunities to assemble those vehicles and breathe new life into
our car-making industry.
In order to meet the growing global demand for EVs and the batteries
they depend on, the private and public sectors must partner to support
the advancement of the industry, attract major players in the global
battery value chain and develop an infrastructure to protect the sector
from risk.
By 2025, there will be approximately 1.5 billion cars on the roads worldwide. As automakers shift toward a low-emissions product line to attract a rising number of climate-conscious consumers, the battery market is poised to be a key part of the expanding clean-growth economy. Canada should be a leader in the emerging global battery market – or risk being left behind.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 3:31 PM on Friday, January 31st, 2020
SPONSOR: ZEN Graphene Solutions: An emerging advanced materials and graphene development company with a focus on new solutions using pure graphene and other two-dimensional materials. Our competitive advantage relies on the unique qualities of our multi-decade supply of precursor materials in the Albany Graphite Deposit. Independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada confirm this. Click here for more information
The recent report published on Natural Graphite Market Research Report
analyzes various factors impacting the growth trajectory of this
industry. Primary and secondary research is employed to determine the
development aspects and growth path in Natural Graphite Market on the
global, regional and country-level scale. The historic, present and
forecast situations impending the Natural Graphite Industry dynamics,
competition as well as growth constraints are comprehensively studied.
This report is a complete blend of technological innovations, market
risks, opportunities, risks, challenges, and niche Natural Graphite
Industry segments.
Major companies present globally in this report are as follows:
Steel & Refractories Carbon brushes Batteries Automotive parts Lubricants Others
The important market trends, prominent players, product portfolio, manufacturing cost analysis, product types and pricing structure are presented. All crucial factors like Natural Graphite market dynamics, challenges, opportunities, restraints are studied in this report.Â
The up-to-date market information presents the competitive structure
of Natural Graphite Industry to help players in analyzing the
competitive structure for growth and profitability. The notable features
of this report are Natural Graphite Market share based on each product
type, application, player, and region. Profit estimation for all market
segments and sub-segments and consumption ratio.
Key Deliverables of Natural Graphite Research Report are mentioned below:
Renumeration analysis for each application is covered.
Market share per Natural Graphite application is projected during 2020-2026. Consumption aspects for the same are covered.
Natural Graphite Market drivers which will enhance the commercialization matrix to enhance the business sphere is explained.
Vital information regarding challenges, risks, SWOT analysis of top players, and market share is covered.
Consumption rates in Natural Graphite Industry for major regions namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, MEA, South America and the rest of the world is covered.Â
Research Methodology of Natural Graphite Market:
The primary and secondary research methodology is used to gather data
on parent and peer Natural Graphite Market. Industry experts across the
value chain participate in validating the market size, revenue share,
supply-demand scenario, and other key findings. The top-down and
bottom-up approach is used in analyzing the complete market size and
share. The key opinion leaders of Natural Graphite Industry like
marketing directors, VPs, CEOs, technology directors, R&D managers
are interviewed to gather information on supply and demand aspects.
For secondary data sources information is gathered from company
investor reports, annual reports, press releases, government and company
databases, certified journals, publications, and other various other
third-party sources.
Table of Contents Is Segmented As Follows:
Report Overview: Product definition, overview, scope, growth rate comparison by type, application, and region from 2020-2026 is covered.
Executive Summary: Vital information on industry trends, Natural Graphite market size by region and growth rate for the same is provided.
Profiling of Top Natural Graphite Industry players:
All top market players are analyzed based on gross margin, price
revenue, sales, production, and their company details are covered.
Regional Analysis: Top regions and countries are analyzed to gauge the Natural Graphite industry potential and presence on the basis of market size by product type, application, and market forecast. The complete analysis period is from 2014-2026.Â
Posted by AGORACOM
at 2:02 PM on Friday, January 31st, 2020
SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals is focused on the exploration and development of minerals for the new green economy such as lithium and graphite. Lomiko owns 80% of the high-grade La Loutre graphite Property , Lac Des Iles Graphite Property and the 100% owned Quatre Milles Graphite Property. Lomiko is uniquely poised to supply the growing EV battery market. Click Here For More Information
UPS’ venture capital arm, UPS Ventures, has completed a minority investment in Arrival,
which makes electric vehicle (EV) platforms and purpose-built vehicles.
Along with the investment in Arrival, UPS also announced a commitment
to purchase 10,000 electric vehicles to be built for UPS with priority
access to purchase additional electric vehicles.
UPS will collaborate with Arrival to develop a wide range of electric
vehicles with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). The technology
is designed to increase safety and operating efficiencies, including
the potential for automated movements in UPS depots.
UPS will initiate testing ADAS features later in 2020. Future vehicle
purchases are contingent on successful tests of initial vehicles.
Vehicle purchase prices will not be disclosed.
UPS continues to build an integrated fleet of electric vehicles,
combined with innovative, large-scale fleet charging technology. As
mega-trends like population growth, urban migration, and e-commerce
continue to accelerate, we recognize the need to work with partners
around the world to solve both road congestion and pollution challenges
for our customers and the communities we serve.
Electric vehicles form a cornerstone to our sustainable urban
delivery strategies. Taking an active investment role in Arrival enables
UPS to collaborate on the design and production of the world’s most
advanced electric delivery vehicles.—Juan Perez, UPS chief information and engineering officer
Arrival takes a ground-up approach to the design and production of
its electric vehicles, enabling an efficient path toward mass adoption.
The company produces its own major core vehicle components: chassis,
powertrain, body and electronic controls. Arrival vehicles also use a
modular design with standardized parts, a method that reduces
maintenance and other costs of ownership.
UPS has been a strong strategic partner of Arrival’s, providing
valuable insight into how electric delivery vans are used on the road
and, importantly, how they can be completely optimized for drivers.
Together, our teams have been working hard to create bespoke electric
vehicles, based on our flexible skateboard platforms that meet the
end-to-end needs of UPS from driving, loading/unloading and back-office
operations. We are pleased that today’s investment and vehicle order
creates even closer ties between our two companies.—Denis Sverdlov, Arrival chief executive
Arrival will build the vehicles in micro-factories, using
lightweight, durable materials the company designs and creates in-house.
As an investor, UPS has the option to fast-track orders as necessary. UPS expects to deploy the EVs in Europe and North America.
Arrival is the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to provide
purpose-built electric delivery vehicles to UPS’ specifications and with
a production strategy for global scale. Since 2016, UPS and Arrival
have collaborated to develop concepts of different vehicles sizes.
The companies previously announced they would develop a
state-of-the-art pilot fleet of 35 electric delivery vehicles to be
trialed in London and Paris. Additionally, UPS announced a pioneering
new approach to electric charging and storage that has now been deployed
in UPS’s central London facility.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 1:12 PM on Thursday, January 30th, 2020
https://youtu.be/swY2-K4DXSI
The Morning Drive: The Electric Vehicle Revolution Featuring Lomiko Metals
What is the Upside for Lomiko? We are glad you asked that question! That’s why we need sunglasses. Below is a news report regarding our nearest neighbor that has gone through the PEA and Feasibility process with the result being a Discounted Net Present Value of $ 750 million and a $50+ million market capitalization.
Please note current tonnage amount at Lomiko’s La Loutre Graphene Battery Zone is 3%-3.6% and there is 36 million tonnes in the defined area. The new Refractory Zone at La Loutre was drilled in 2019 and will add much more tonnage, but more importantly, it will increase the grade reported in the new 43-101! Please see the drill map
After a Preliminary Economic Assessment, the La Loutre Project should generate a much larger Discounted Net Present Value than our current market capitalization of $ 4 million.
From news agency Stockwatch: Pierre Renaud and Eric Desaulniers’s Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (NOU), unchanged at 20 cents on 219,000 shares, has signed a benefit-sharing agreement with the Municipality of Saint-Michel-des-Saints. Mr. Desaulniers, President and CEO, puts a colourful spin on the arrangement, which he says has strengthened the social, economic and environmental development partnership between the company and the town. Rejean Gouin, mayor of Saint-Michel, is proud of the deal, adding that he is “certain that it will benefit all citizens as well as future generations.”
Matawinie hosts nearly 96 million tonnes indicated at 4.28 per cent graphite and 14 million tonnes inferred at 4.19 per cent, all of it in the West zone of the company’s Tony claim block. A feasibility study, completed late in 2018, was based on a reserve of nearly 60 million tonnes at 4.35 per cent graphite, enough to last about a generation. The study contemplated a mine capable of producing 100,000 tonnes of graphite per year, enough to support a discounted net present value of $750-million after taxes. Still, before the town sees the annual cheques covering 3 per cent of after-tax cash flow, Mr. Desaulniers will have to find the $276-million to build the mine and get it running.
For more information on the Company, review the website at www.lomiko.com, contact A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email: [email protected].
Posted by AGORACOM
at 1:57 PM on Tuesday, January 28th, 2020
SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals is focused on the exploration and development of minerals for the new green economy such as lithium and graphite. Lomiko owns 80% of the high-grade La Loutre graphite Property , Lac Des Iles Graphite Property and the 100% owned Quatre Milles Graphite Property. Lomiko is uniquely poised to supply the growing EV battery market. Click Here For More Information
According
to research by BloombergNEF, European automakers and governments will
move toward helping curb global warming with stricter carbon emissions
regulations, which could force an electric-vehicle revolution.
In the United States, electric vehicles are primarily being purchased
by consumers that want to take action on their own. Fuel is cheap, the
country doesn’t have a real climate change plan, and large vehicles like
pickups are king. All of this means that there’s little incentive,
beyond the $7,500 federal tax credit, to purchase an EV. That, though,
isn’t the case in other countries like China and, soon to be Europe.
EV Revolution Coming This Year
According
to a report by Bloomberg and a forecast from BloombergNEF, Europe will
see an electric revolution in 2020. The outlet states that the country’s
government will soon look to cut carbon emissions from vehicles as part
of a plan to curb global warming. This, in turn, will force automakers
to introduce electric vehicles.
Bloomberg claims that sales of
electric cars are set to increase to 2.5 million units in 2020. That
figure represents an increase of 20 percent from 2019.
Just like this year, China will continue to lead the way forward for sales. But the country recently decided to reduce subsidies for EV owners,
which could help Europe gain a larger piece of the market. The outlet’s
forecasting claims that Volkswagen’s push to become an electric-vehicle
force will boost the number of electrified vehicles in Europe. In
total, the outlet expects 800,000 electric cars to be sold in Europe in
2020.
“The long-term future is really bright, but in the short
term we’re expecting growth to be relatively slow,” said Colin
McKerracher, an analyst at BloombergNEF. “You’re still in the middle of
this transition, from a market driven by direct subsidies toward one
driven by a combination of real consumer demand and other big policy
mechanisms.”
Better Prices, More Infrastructure Coming
Another
important aspect of electric vehicles that will help sales increase in
Europe are decreasing lithium-ion battery prices. The outlet states that
prices per kilowatt-hour will hit roughly $135 – approximately 13
percent lower than in 2019. With the increase of battery production,
better battery designs, and more sales, battery prices are expected to
tumble.
All of these things mean that more chargers will be
needed. Luckily, public chargers are expected to rise to 1.2 million, up
from 880,000 last year. The increase in chargers will come in part from
governments and energy companies looking to expand infrastructure to
support the increase in demand for electric cars.
Another
interesting trend to look at in 2020 include other forms of electrified
transportation. A few companies, even automakers, showcased flying electric cars at CES.
While it’s unlikely that one would come out in 2020, it’s likely
something that more companies will pursue this year. Other forms of
transportation, including boats could go electric in 2020, too.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 4:05 PM on Monday, January 27th, 2020
SPONSOR: ZEN Graphene Solutions: An emerging advanced materials and graphene development company with a focus on new solutions using pure graphene and other two-dimensional materials. Our competitive advantage relies on the unique qualities of our multi-decade supply of precursor materials in the Albany Graphite Deposit. Independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada confirm this. Click here for more information
Researchers at the India-based Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) are developing an economical graphene-based supercapacitor
that can present an effective alternative to providing energy to
various applications, including state-of-the-art military equipment,
mobile devices and modern vehicles.
Graphene has been used in the newly developed ultra-capacitors to
replace the expensive activated carbon, and the switch seems to have
also reduced the supercapacitors’ weight and cost by ten times.
The team has developed a new technique for making graphene oxide, which is being used to produce new ultra-capacitors.
CMERI scientist Dr. Naresh Chandra Murmu stated that “scientists have
developed a technique for producing graphene oxide. The production cost
of one kilogram of graphene oxide using this technique comes to around
ten thousand rupees, which is much lesser than the cost of activated
carbon used in supercapacitors. We have modified the surface of graphene
oxide in our research, due to which it has also succeeded in reducing
its weight. We have now reached the advanced stage of making
ultra-capacitors by using this graphene oxide, which can be useful in
various sectors.â€
Former Senior Defense Development Research Organization (DRDO)
official M.H. Rahman said that such devices not only cater to civilian
applications, but can be applicable in strategic and defense
applications as well.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 2:06 PM on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020
SPONSOR: ZEN Graphene Solutions: An emerging advanced materials and graphene development company with a focus on new solutions using pure graphene and other two-dimensional materials. Our competitive advantage relies on the unique qualities of our multi-decade supply of precursor materials in the Albany Graphite Deposit. Independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada confirm this. Click here for more information
The battery race shows no sign of letting up, even though the gains
feel increasingly marginal. Whether it’s phones or portable consoles,
maximising the life eked out of a slim lithium-ion battery is getting
harder and harder.
For some time, graphene has been touted as one possible solution, a
material that hasn’t been efficiently harnessed yet but which could help
improve charging times and battery life in one fell swoop. Now Real
Graphene, a tech business from Los Angeles, is apparently preparing to
change that.
It has a range of portably power banks on
the market, and ambitious plans to crowdfund the wider production of
banks that go even further with their use of Graphene. For now, Real
Graphene’s banks come in two sizes, a 10,000mAh version and another with
20,000mAh, and have a number of apparent advantages over lithium banks.
For one thing, they charge far more quickly themselves, with the
smaller variant charging completely in 50 minutes, far less time than
the hours most banks need to power themselves up.
Graphene as a material is also extremely lightweight, so down the
line it could lead to lighter batteries, always a welcome change.
However, for now, even Real Graphene’s own batteries are not pure
graphene — they’re a blend of graphene and lithium which gains in speed
but remains affordable to build and sell.
Even so, the reality is that graphene-enhanced batteries will be more
expensive than current lithium equivalents, to the tune of a 30% bump
in cost at Real Graphene’s own estimation. That’s a sizeable leap, so it
shouldn’t be a huge surprise if the tech can’t make too many mainstream
waves until it’s even more affordable in comparison.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 12:26 PM on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020
SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals is focused on the exploration and development of minerals for the new green economy such as lithium and graphite. Lomiko owns 80% of the high-grade La Loutre graphite Property , Lac Des Iles Graphite Property and the 100% owned Quatre Milles Graphite Property. Lomiko is uniquely poised to supply the growing EV battery market. Click Here For More Information
Swedish automaker Volvo announced plans to build an electric battery plant at its assembly factory in Ridgeville, South Carolina to support the launch of electrified Volvo models for the U.S. market. Construction of the battery assembly plant will be completed by the end of 2021.
While many people consider Detroit home of the automobile, the
southeast region of the U.S. is becoming a hotbed for auto
manufacturing. Automakers BMW,
Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai built assembly plants
in the region to manufacture vehicles for the U.S. and global markets.
Most recently, Toyota and Mazda recently announced they will be
opening a new $1.6 billion plant in Huntsville, Alabama, adding around
4,000 new jobs to the region. Now Volvo becomes the latest automaker to
expand its U.S. manufacturing with a new electric vehicle battery plant.
The automaker announced plans to build an electric battery plant at
its assembly plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina to support the launch
of electrified Volvo models for the U.S. market. Construction of the
battery assembly plant will be completed by the end of 2021, a Volvo
spokeswoman said to Automotive News.
The battery production plant is part of a previously announced $600
million project that is already underway at Volvo’s plant in Ridgeville,
S.C., which includes adding a second production line and Volvo Car
University. The 2.3 million sq. ft. facility includes a body shop, paint
shop, final assembly, a vehicle processing center and an office
building.
The Ridgeville plant is Volvo’s first in the U.S. Construction began in 2015.
At that facility, employees will assemble and test the lithium ion
battery packs that will power the electric XC90. By assembling the packs
on at the plant, Volvo hopes to reduce shipping costs involved in
transporting the heavy batteries.
Dallas Bolen, a manager with Volvo’s product launch group, told local
media outlet the Post and Courier that local battery production would
be more cost-effective than building batteries off-site then having to
transport them to the factory.
The Ridgeville plant is currently the production home of the Volvo
S60 sedan. The U.S.-built S60s are exported around the world through the
Port of Charleston, one of the busiest ports in the U.S.
Volvo’s next EV will be the XC40 Recharge. It will arrive at U.S. dealers later this year.
The South Carolina plant will become the global production center for
the third-generation XC90 flagship crossover. Volvo plans to build the
next generation XC90 sport utility vehicle in 2022, along with a
fully-electric version. The plant has the capacity to build 150,000
vehicles annually.
Volvo has not said how much of the XC90’s production at the $1.1
billion factory will be devoted to the battery-electric variant.
That next-generation XC90 will be built on the next version of
Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture platform, referred to as SPA2. The
new electric vehicle architecture is designed to make it easy to add
new technology, such as microprocessors, sensors and camera technology.
Volvo declined to release its production capacity for the battery
assembly plant or say how many jobs it will create. Overall, the planned
XC90 production line is expected to create about 1,000 jobs.
The XC90 would be Volvo’s third battery-powered model following the
electric version of the popular XC40 compact crossover, was unveiled in
October.
The electric XC40
is expected to arrive in U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter of
2020. The crossover will be competitively priced under $48,000, after
the $7,500 federal tax credit, Volvo said.
The new battery plant will support Volvo’s push to electrify around
half of its lineup. The automaker aims for EVs to account for half of
its global sales by 2025. Over the next five years, Volvo expects to
launch a fully electric vehicle every year.
“A Volvo built in 2025 will leave a carbon footprint that is 40
percent lower than a car that we build today,” Volvo CEO Hakan
Samuelsson said during a press event in October. “We made safety part of
the brand. We should do the same with sustainability.”
In November 2019, Volvo Cars announced it will be the first carmaker
to implement global traceability of cobalt used in its batteries by
applying blockchain technology,
ensuring that customers can drive battery-powered Volvos knowing the
raw materials for the batteries has been responsibly sourced.
