Close menu




August 24th, 2022 | 13:17 CEST

Lithium circular economy and new deposits: Mercedes-Benz Group, Edison Lithium, Varta

  • Mining
  • Lithium
  • Batteries
Photo credits: pixabay.com

Progress is continuously being made in the field of e-cars. However, companies can never get around one substance in electromobility: lithium. We explain where lithium comes from, what recycling options are available and how modern technology can get as much out of the "white gold" as possible, using the shares of Mercedes-Benz Group, Edison Lithium and Varta as examples. Let's go!

time to read: 3 minutes | Author: Nico Popp
ISIN: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG | DE0007100000 , Edison Lithium Corp | CA28103Q1090 , VARTA AG O.N. | DE000A0TGJ55

Table of contents:


    Dr. Thomas Gutschlag, CEO, Deutsche Rohstoff AG
    "[...] China's dominance is one of the reasons why we are so heavily involved in the tungsten market. Here, around 85% of production is in Chinese hands. [...]" Dr. Thomas Gutschlag, CEO, Deutsche Rohstoff AG

    Full interview

     

    Mercedes-Benz Group: Keeping an eye on progress

    As early as 2020, Mercedes-Benz Group announced that it would only use battery raw materials from certified sources. The Swabians recognized early on that sustainable announcements must be followed by sustainable actions in order to convince customers. Starting in 2023, a pilot plant for recycling e-car batteries will be built in Kuppenheim, Baden, not far from the Mercedes-Benz and Daimler Truck locations in Rastatt and Gaggenau. The makers behind the pilot plant, which include the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), have recycling rates of up to 96% in mind. Initially, an annual capacity of 2,500 t is planned. In a next step, the knowledge gained is to be used to roll out the processes on a large scale at a low cost.

    It usually takes a while from a pilot plant to series production. But Mercedes-Benz is doing well to do everything it can today to close the supply gap for lithium, which will open up, above all, for demanding customers with ESG profiles. Market experts assume that European demand for "white gold" alone could increase 18-fold by 2030. Against this background, the circular economy planned by Mercedes makes sense but will not solve all the problems. Lithium from sustainable sources will be urgently needed in the coming years. Since the Mercedes-Benz Group is also experimenting with innovative battery technology in addition to investments in recycling in order to significantly increase the efficiency of the batteries, as in the EQXX prototype, the Company appears to be well positioned in the long term. However, there is no reason for panic buying in the short term.

    Edison Lithium: Speculative bet on lithium

    Investors should instead keep an eye on the Edison Lithium share. Although little has happened here in terms of news in recent weeks, the share is considered "illiquid". If the mood around lithium stocks turns in the early stages, investors are better off already positioned. Chasing the price usually makes little sense with small stocks. Edison Lithium has two exploration licenses in Argentina and operates there not far from Livent, Argentina's largest lithium producer. Since the Company paid only about USD 1.85 million for its licenses and the stock is also valued at only single digits, opportunities can arise from this key data alone.

    Since the entire region around the Antofalla Basin has attracted numerous companies in the past, such as Albemarle, Lake Resources and even Posco and Allkem, the region offers a good infrastructure for companies like Edison Lithium. The stock is a small cap, and the Company is in its infancy. However, the location of the properties and the prices paid for them suggest potential. The stock is in a shallow downtrend but has recently stabilized on declining volumes. The stock is interesting for anti-cyclical investors and makes a good addition to any watchlist.

    Varta: Is it finally starting now?

    The Varta share has been on every watchlist in recent years. The specialist for batteries and rechargeable batteries was considered to be the German e-car share. But Varta had only announced its intention to enter the business. After that, nothing happened for a long time.

    Then, in February of this year, Varta founded its own e-car subsidiary. The Company, called Pertrix V, is to build up investments in all aspects of e-mobility. According to initial details, Varta's business could revolve around lithium-ion batteries, which can be charged particularly quickly. However, Varta has not yet provided any further details. The share is currently trading at its low. Here, too, there are few reasons to buy today.


    Of the major companies involved in e-mobility, Mercedes-Benz is preferable to Varta's battery forging company. The reason: The Swabians are already selling cars like hot cakes and are aggressively moving forward when it comes to innovations. Varta, on the other hand, is relatively silent. Great details have also been lacking with the lithium seeker, Edison Lithium. However, this is not unusual for an early-stage company and is what makes it so attractive to many speculative and anti-cyclical investors. Those who put their foot in the door with such shares when they are in comparatively low demand on the market have often already made the first step in the right direction.


    Conflict of interest

    Pursuant to §85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), we point out that Apaton Finance GmbH as well as partners, authors or employees of Apaton Finance GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "Relevant Persons") may hold shares or other financial instruments of the aforementioned companies in the future or may bet on rising or falling prices and thus a conflict of interest may arise in the future. The Relevant Persons reserve the right to buy or sell shares or other financial instruments of the Company at any time (hereinafter each a "Transaction"). Transactions may, under certain circumstances, influence the respective price of the shares or other financial instruments of the Company.

    In addition, Apaton Finance GmbH is active in the context of the preparation and publication of the reporting in paid contractual relationships.

    For this reason, there is a concrete conflict of interest.

    The above information on existing conflicts of interest applies to all types and forms of publication used by Apaton Finance GmbH for publications on companies.

    Risk notice

    Apaton Finance GmbH offers editors, agencies and companies the opportunity to publish commentaries, interviews, summaries, news and the like on news.financial. These contents are exclusively for the information of the readers and do not represent any call to action or recommendations, neither explicitly nor implicitly they are to be understood as an assurance of possible price developments. The contents do not replace individual expert investment advice and do not constitute an offer to sell the discussed share(s) or other financial instruments, nor an invitation to buy or sell such.

    The content is expressly not a financial analysis, but a journalistic or advertising text. Readers or users who make investment decisions or carry out transactions on the basis of the information provided here do so entirely at their own risk. No contractual relationship is established between Apaton Finance GmbH and its readers or the users of its offers, as our information only refers to the company and not to the investment decision of the reader or user.

    The acquisition of financial instruments involves high risks, which can lead to the total loss of the invested capital. The information published by Apaton Finance GmbH and its authors is based on careful research. Nevertheless, no liability is assumed for financial losses or a content-related guarantee for the topicality, correctness, appropriateness and completeness of the content provided here. Please also note our Terms of use.


    Der Autor

    Nico Popp

    At home in Southern Germany, the passionate stock exchange expert has been accompanying the capital markets for about twenty years. With a soft spot for smaller companies, he is constantly on the lookout for exciting investment stories.

    About the author



    Related comments:

    Commented by Armin Schulz on October 1st, 2025 | 07:10 CEST

    How BYD Leverages Its Lead, How Power Metallic Mines Benefits, and Why Mercedes-Benz Needs to Catch Up

    • Mining
    • Nickel
    • Copper
    • Electromobility

    The next phase of electromobility has begun. It is no longer vehicle sales that determine the winners and losers, but rather the fierce battle for the raw materials used in their construction. While demand for copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt is exploding, supply bottlenecks and political dependencies threaten to slow down the profitable ramp-up. Those who secure the most valuable resources today will control the entire market tomorrow. Reason enough to take a closer look at the strategic moves of BYD, Power Metallic Mines, and Mercedes-Benz, which are now setting the course for the coming decade.

    Read

    Commented by Carsten Mainitz on October 1st, 2025 | 07:05 CEST

    Almonty Industries, Gerresheimer, BASF – It is not too late yet!

    • Mining
    • Tungsten
    • Defense
    • chemicals
    • Pharma

    The race for critical high-tech goods and raw materials is already underway. The COVID-19 pandemic painfully highlighted the downsides of a globally interconnected economy. China's export ban on critical raw materials is currently having a double impact, as the country dominates the market. This effect is expected to continue to intensify in the future as demand continues to rise dynamically while supply increases only slowly. This provides a strong tailwind for raw material producers, but poses significant challenges for companies in other sectors.

    Read

    Commented by Carsten Mainitz on September 30th, 2025 | 07:40 CEST

    Antimony Resources, Rheinmetall, Novo Nordisk – Something is in the air!

    • Mining
    • antimony
    • Defense
    • Biotechnology

    Sufficient access to raw materials is crucial for any economy. The EU has compiled a list of 34 critical raw materials. How critical a raw material is classified depends on two parameters: "economic importance" and "supply risk." This list also includes a little-known but very important metalloid – antimony. The price of antimony skyrocketed at the end of 2024 in the wake of China's export ban. There are still exciting investment opportunities in this area.

    Read