TECHNOLOGY
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“ WE HAVE SO MUCH POTENTIAL IN THE INDUSTRY THAT I THINK TODAY WE ARE UNDERESTIMAT- ING HOW BIG THE MARKET IN BATTERIES IS GOING TO BECOME ”
— Vincent Ledoux Pedailles , Executive Director , European Corporate Strategy , Infinity Lithium continue on its upward trajectory , with gross estimates suggesting it is projected to rise as much as 20 % per year for the next ten years . “ People are becoming more optimistic about EVs ,” he adds . “ But it ’ s much more than that … We are starting to see plans for more electric buses and trucks , while the maritime and aviation industries are also investing in ways to go electric . We have so much potential in the industry that I think today we are underestimating how big the market in batteries is going to become . The issue will be on the supply side . Are we going to have enough lithium to feed to those cathode and battery manufacturers ?”
Answering that question will be the key to Europe de-risking the supply chain to fulfil its potential . Behind Asia , Europe is home to the second largest EV and battery manufacturers and hence has become the second largest market for battery metals . This means that , after Asia , it will soon become the second largest consumer of nickel , cobalt and lithium in the world . “ This can ’ t happen overnight ,” warns Ledoux Pedailles . “ The industry remains pragmatic here , auto manufacturers
FEBRUARY 2019