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Hearst-Area Graphite Junior Miner Opens Pilot Plant in Guelph SPONSOR – ZEN Graphene Solutions $ZEN.ca $LLG.ca $FMS.ca $NGC.ca $CVE.ca $DNI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 3:32 PM on Wednesday, February 5th, 2020
ZEN Graphene Solutions’ Guelph processing facility.
  • ZEN Graphene Solutions to produce sample sizes for commercial market

The developer of a graphite mine near Hearst has cut the ribbon on a research and production facility in southern Ontario.

ZEN Graphene Solutions announced Feb. 4 of the grand opening of a Guelph-based small-scale pilot plant and R & D centre.

The company (formerly Zenyatta Ventures) has high hopes for 2020 to enter the global market by delivering a refined product for end users, and potentially strike some commercial deals.

Over the years, ZEN has been developing the Albany Graphite Deposit near the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and the Town of Hearst.

At their site, 30 kilometres north of the Trans-Canada Highway, the company discovered a very rare, highly purity graphite deposit that’s estimated to have an open-pit mine life of 22 years and should produce 33,000 tonnes of graphite a year.

The project is at an advanced stage of exploration with an environmental assessment process underway.

Graphene is a highly prized carbon nanomaterial that has a multitude of uses, including in electric vehicle batteries, high strength concrete, water desalination membranes, and auto parts.

ZEN has been concentrating on potential applications in the fields of transportation, aerospace, bio-medical, civil engineering and water treatment.

The company has been working with the University of Guelph in developing a proprietary process to convert graphite ore into top-quality graphene oxide for high-end users.

They’ve been increasingly fielding requests from clients for larger sample sizes. That led to ZEN making an arrangement last September with Chemisar Laboratories to move into a 2,300-square-foot office and lab space in Guelph by October.

This will serve as ZEN’s processing and production facility to ship small sample batchers to users in industry and academia for research purposes.

SOURCE: https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/mining/hearst-area-graphite-junior-miner-opens-pilot-plant-in-guelph-2069273

Lomiko Metals $LMR.ca Outlines 2020 Project Plan for La Loutre Flake Graphite Property in Quebec $CJC.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 1:11 PM on Wednesday, February 5th, 2020

Vancouver, B.C., Feb. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX-V: LMR, OTC: LMRMF, FSE: DH8C) (Lomiko or the “Company”) is pleased to announce plans to move forward with assessment and development of the La Loutre Property for 2020.  The goals are as follows:

1) Complete 100% Acquisition of the Property

2) Complete Metallurgy and Graphite Characterization

3) Complete a Technical Report in accordance with NI 43-101 Guidelines

A “technical report” means a report prepared and filed in accordance with this Instrument and Form 43-101F1 Technical Report that includes, in summary form, all material scientific and technical information in respect of the subject property as of the effective date of the technical report;

4) Complete Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) compliant with NI 43-101 Guidelines

PEA means a study, other than a pre-feasibility or feasibility study, that includes an economic analysis of the potential viability of mineral resources;

Further details regarding the plan will be released when consultants are assigned for each task.

Results from Drilling Program

Results from the 2019 program (see Table 1 below, and Figure 1) at the Refractory Zone of the La Loutre graphite project (the  “Project”) indicate considerable promise. A total of 21 holes were completed in 2019 on the Refractory Zone for a total of 2,985 metres.  The Project is owned by Lomiko (80%) and Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (20%).

“La Loutre has proven to be a large and high-grade area worthy of further investment.” stated A.  Paul Gill, CEO. “The only operating graphite mine in North America is the Imerys Graphite & Carbon at Lac-des-ÃŽles, 53 km northwest of La Loutre which reported Proven reserves of 5.2 M Tonnes at a grade of 7.42 % Cg in July 1988 before the start of production.” (reference: Potentiel de la minéralisation en graphite au Québec, N’Golo Togola, MERN, page 31, Conférence Québec Mines, November 24 2016).

* mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby projects is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company’s property:

Although the recent focus was on the Refractory Zone, the Project was also subject of an independent technical report in accordance with NI 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, prepared by B. Turcotte and G. Servelle of InnovExplo Inc. from Val-d’Or, Québec, and O. Peters, of AGP Mining Inc., dated March 24,  2016, filed for the Project’s Graphene-Battery Zone. The report presented a mineral resource estimate of 18.4 M Tonnes at a grade of 3.19% carbon flake graphite (“Cg”) in the Indicated category and 16.7 M Tonnes at 3.75% Cg in the Inferred category using a cut-off of 1.5% Cg.

The above-noted 2016 mineral resource does not include the current results or the significant intercepts from the Refractory Zone in 2016 which were as follows:

LL-16-01 – 7.74% Cg over 135.60 m including 16.81%Cg over 44.10 m

LL-16-02 – 17.08% Cg over 22.30 m and 14.80% Cg over 15.10 m

LL-16-03 – 14.56% Cg over 110.80 m

The next task is to complete a new resource estimate in compliance with NI 43-101 for the entire Project since the above-mentioned 2016 resource estimate including the 2016 and 2019 drilling at the Refractory Zone.

Table 1: Results of the 21 drill holes of the 2019 drill program. The width is drill indicated core length. Insufficient data exists to determine true width at this time

On the basis of the available geophysical and 2016 and 2019 drilling data, the strike length of the mineralization is estimated at 900 m in the NW-SE direction and is open in both directions.  A detailed interpretation of the results will be carried out to better estimate the thickness and strike length of the mineralized zone.

The Project consists of contiguous claim blocks totaling 29 km2 situated approximately 53 km SE of the Imerys Carbon and Graphite Lac-des-ÃŽles mine, formerly known as the Timcal mine, North America’s only operating graphite mine. It is accessible by driving NW from Montreal for a distance of approximately 170 kilometres

The 2019 exploration program was managed by Consul-Teck Exploration Minière Inc. (“Consul- Teck”) of Val-d’Or, Quebec, who designed the drilling campaign, supervised the program and logged and sampled the core.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Consul-Teck implemented QA/QC procedures to ensure best practices in sampling and analysis of the core samples. The drill core was logged and then split, with one half sent for assay and the other retained in the core box as a witness sample. Duplicates and blanks were inserted at a regular interval into the sample stream.

The samples in secure tagged bags were delivered directly to the analytical facility for analysis. In this case, the analytical facility was the ALS Minerals laboratory facility in Val-d’Or, Quebec. The samples are weighed and identified prior to sample preparation. The samples are crushed to 70% minus 2 mm, then separated and pulverized to 85% passing 75µm. All samples are analyzed for Cg using the C-IR18 method.

Qualified Person

Jean-Sébastien Lavallée (OGQ #773), Geologist, is a shareholder of both companies, VP Exploration of QPM and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at www.lomiko.com, contact A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email: [email protected].

On Behalf of the Board,

“A. Paul Gill”

Chief Executive Officer

Why Is Elon Dancing? TESLA Might Hit $1000! SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals $LMR.ca $CJC.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 11:09 AM on Tuesday, February 4th, 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

  • By 2022 electric cars will become price competitive with conventional cars

CEO INTERVIEW LINK

Most investors don’t yet understand the tsunami of electric car demand that is just around the corner. Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts that by 2020 there will be over 289 different models of electric cars.   Just recently Bloomberg has revised their targets now saying the same as I have said for the past 3 years. Bloomberg now says by 2022 electric cars will become price competitive with conventional cars. Previously they said by 2025. Even Volkswagen predicts that EVs will go mainstream in 2022. By 2022 an electric car should be cheaper than a conventional car, and will be up to 10x cheaper to fuel, and up to 10x cheaper to maintain. At this point electric car sales will go through the roof as buyers will be significantly better financially owning an electric car.  

Click Here for Lomiko Website

ZEN Graphene Solutions Announces Grand Opening of Guelph Facility $ZEN.ca $LLG.ca $FMS.ca $NGC.ca $CVE.ca $DNI.ca

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.

For further information:
Dr. Francis Dubé, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +1 (289) 821-2820
Email: [email protected]

Canada Can Be A Leader In The Global Electric-Car Battery Market SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals $LMR.ca $CJC.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca

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.

Marcelo Lu and Sean Drygas Contributed to The Globe and Mail source: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-canada-can-be-a-leader-in-the-global-electric-car-battery-market/

High Demand in Natural Graphite Industry Will Lead To New Opportunities For Existing and Emerging Market Players SPONSOR: ZEN Graphene Solutions $ZEN.ca $LLG.ca $FMS.ca $NGC.ca $CVE.ca $DNI.ca

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

https://dagorettinews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Natural-Graphite.jpg

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. 

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. 

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. 

SOURCE: https://dagorettinews.com/high-demand-in-natural-graphite-industry-will-lead-to-new-opportunities-for-existing-and-emerging-market-players/

UPS Invests in Arrival, Orders 10,000 Electric Delivery Vehicles SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals $LMR.ca $CJC.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca

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.

SOURCE:https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/01/20200130-ups.html

A Remake of the Blues Brothers Driving a Tesla? SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals $LMR.ca $CJC.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca

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]

On Behalf of the Board,

LOMIKO METALS INC.

A. Paul Gill,

Chief Executive Officer

EV Buyers Can Expect Cheaper Batteries and More Chargers in 2020 SPONSOR: Lomiko Metals $LMR.ca $CJC.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca

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.

SOURCE: https://www.futurecar.com/3749/EV-Buyers-Can-Expect-Cheaper-Batteries-and-More-Chargers-in-2020

Graphene for Physicists, Materials Scientists, and Engineers SPONSOR: Gratomic $GRAT.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca #TODAQ

Posted by AGORACOM at 12:39 PM on Tuesday, January 28th, 2020
http://blog.agoracom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GRAT-square2.png

SPONSOR: Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V: GRAT) Advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products, most notably high value graphene based components for a range of mass market products. Collaborating with Perpetuus, Gratomic will use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for commercialization on an industrial scale. For More Info Click Here

In the weeks since the Physics World team kicked off the new year by testing a pair of graphene headphones, we’ve received a steady stream of comments about our review and a related segment on our weekly podcast. A few people have asked our opinion of other graphene headphones, and one man went so far as to question whether the “graphene” label he found on an inexpensive pair of headphones was anything more than “misleading click-bait”.

I can’t judge any product I haven’t tried, and I also can’t judge a product’s graphene content without taking it apart and getting experts to analyse it. However, with those two caveats firmly in place, here are two facts to consider should you happen to be in the market for graphene headphones (and, by extension, graphene anything).

First, a lot of things contribute to how a pair of headphones will sound. The physical composition of the headphone drivers (graphene, PET, cellulose, or whatever) is only one factor. Others include the method by which those drivers create sound (this blog post explains a few of the possibilities, and their trade-offs); the quality of the other electronics; and simple things like how well the headphones fit over/in your ears. Some of these things are more expensive to optimize than others. The graphene headphones I tested are a high-end product with, it appears, a high-end price, so I suspect they are pretty good at the non-graphene-related aspects of headphone design – and that much of their cost comes from that, not from the graphene.

Second, graphene exists in many forms, with many price points. A lot of physicists are interested in ultra-pure, single-layer graphene, which has amazing electronic properties. This “physicists’ graphene” is difficult (and expensive) to make in macroscopic quantities. However, others are more interested in graphene’s mechanical properties, such as strength and rigidity. To get these properties, you don’t need ultra-pure single-layer graphene. You can get by with a cheaper type, which for argument’s sake I will term “materials scientists’ graphene” (this is an oversimplification, but it conveys the right feel). The proprietary graphene-based material in the headphones I tested was most likely in this category.

But even this type of graphene is expensive relative to a third type of graphene, which is cheap enough to be added in bulk to substances like paint or resin to improve their heat transport and/or electrical conductivity. As I understand it, this “engineers’ graphene” functions like a superior version of graphite, and manufacturers are selling it by the kilo (and maybe, soon, by the tonne).

I’m not trying to start a three-way brawl between physicists, materials scientists and engineers about which type of graphene is better. They all have their uses, and they all qualify as graphene. But here’s the problem: a product can advertise itself, accurately, as containing graphene even if the graphene it contains is not of a type or quantity that’s going to make a difference to its performance. What’s more, if an unscrupulous manufacturer wants to put graphite in its product and call it “graphene”, it’s hard for ordinary consumers to know the difference. To the naked eye, graphene and graphite both look like gritty black powders. You need more sophisticated testing equipment to distinguish between them, and between the various grades of graphene.

Certification is a huge issue for the graphene industry, and a lot of people are working on it. However, until there’s a strong framework for regulation, the next best thing is probably to look for independent endorsements by people and organizations who know what they’re talking about. The headphones I tried were endorsed by the co-discoverer of graphene, Kostya Novoselov, as making good use of the material. Since then, I’ve learned of a different make of graphene headphones that has been endorsed by an industry body called the Graphene Council. However, until someone gives Physics World its own product-testing lab and qualified technicians to run it, that’s about all I can say – except to add that there are some graphene products I definitely won’t be testing with my colleagues.

SOURCE:https://physicsworld.com/a/graphene-for-physicists-materials-scientists-and-engineers/