Altech Advanced Materials, Volkswagen, BASF - Innovative strength pushes growth

Altech Advanced Materials - 15% more power for electric batteries

Consulting firm Roland Berger predicts a tight supply of critical raw materials for electric cars in the coming years.

In the case of lithium, only small quantities are expected from Europe by the end of the decade. Subsequently, efforts will be made to develop new deposits in the region. Nickel demand depends on battery demand, cell chemistry (NCM versus LFP), and Chinese construction. According to Berger Senior Partner Wolfgang Bernhart, it will be "very difficult" to source sustainably produced nickel products. Although sufficient nickel is available worldwide, the quality grades do not meet the requirements to allow easy use for batteries.

This makes innovations in the renewable energy sector all the more important, including increasing the performance capabilities of electric batteries. And this is precisely what the Company Altech Advanced Materials has made its main task.

The team at Altech Advanced Materials has extensive experience with high-purity lithium and the production of ceramic base materials used in lithium-ion batteries. Using their proprietary process of coating anode material with aluminum oxide in ultra-thin layers, they are able to increase the performance and lifetime of electric batteries. The results the Company has achieved so far are in line with set expectations. The technology promises to increase performance by more than 15% over conventionally coated electric batteries.

Today, February 15, CEO Uwe Ahrens will be available to answer questions from interested investors live at the 6th International Investment Forum. At 17:30 CET (11:30 am ET, 12:30 am KKT), he will give a 30-minute Investor Relations presentation followed by a live Q&A. Click here for the live broadcast. Registration is free and possible at any time on the day of the event.

Volkswagen - New EV model teaser

Something is happening at Volkswagen when it comes to electric cars. The official VW Channel has uploaded a short video, which starts with a request to turn on the sound. When you do, you hear tires crunching on snow, suggesting it could be a battery-electric product or a plug-in hybrid with an EV-only range. The distinctive tires and snowy surroundings indicate it will be a very rugged vehicle.

Volkswagen's chief executive, Thomas Schaefer, says the brand will only make electric-powered cars in Europe from 2033.

The European Parliament this Tuesday approved a law banning new fossil-fuel cars from being sold in the EU from 2035 to speed up the switch to electric vehicles and improve the climate change situation. However, when the law was proposed to the European Union in July 2021, it fell to opposition from some industries and countries. As a result, the final agreement includes some relief, including the ability for small automakers producing fewer than 10,000 vehicles per year to negotiate weaker targets through 2036.

The new guidelines require automakers to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars by 100% by 2035, making it impossible to sell new gasoline and diesel vehicles in the Union of 27 countries. In addition, CO2 emissions from cars sold from 2030 will have to be cut by 55% from 2021 levels, higher than the current target of 37.5%.

EU considers ban on BASF chemical

And politics again: on Tuesday, the European Union launched an investigation into a proposal to restrict the widely used, potentially harmful substances known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals." This could represent the most far-reaching regulation of the chemical industry in the EU. Due to their ability to withstand extreme temperatures and corrosion, these chemicals are used in tens of thousands of different products, including cars, textiles, medical devices, windmills and non-stick pans.

It is believed to be linked to some health risks, such as cancer, hormonal disorders, weakened immune systems, and environmental damage, when PFAS are used. Under CEFIC, a European chemical association, some manufacturers and users of PFAS have formed a lobby subgroup, including BASF, 3M, Bayer, Solvay, Merck KGaA and Teflon manufacturer Chemours.

Five EU countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) signed a joint declaration stating that the adoption would be one of the most far-reaching bans on chemical substances in Europe.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will now appoint two scientific panels, one for risk assessment and one for socio-economic analysis, to consider whether the far-reaching EU chemicals regulation (REACH) proposal is viable.

Initiatives to restrict PFAS are also underway in other regions. In August, the United States government announced it would propose to forever classify certain chemicals as hazardous substances under the US Superfund program.

Investors overseeing USD 8 trillion in assets sent 54 companies a written demand in December to stop using PFAS. The draft estimates that annual medical costs resulting from PFAS exposures in Europe range from EUR 52 billion to EUR 84 billion (USD 55.72 billion to USD 90.01 billion).

Large corporations like BASF and Volkswagen are running their R&D departments hot to meet EU regulations with innovations. It is much easier for Altech Advanced Materials, a lean publicly traded company, to further refine and commercialize its innovation in electromobility. CEO Uwe Ahrens shares insights on the Company's roadmap at today's 6th International Investment Forum. Click here to register.