This battery technology is conquering the West: Mercedes-Benz, BYD, First Phosphate

Mercedes-Benz and Ford on the trail of BYD

Anyone who has read up a little on electricity storage and has a certain environmental awareness has long favoured lithium iron phosphate batteries. In addition to a longer shelf life, these batteries are also hardly flammable and do not require cobalt, which in the past has repeatedly been suspected of being mined in an unsustainable manner. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are therefore considered the next generation of electricity storage. While the batteries are already installed in BYD cars, Mercedes-Benz plans to switch to this innovative technology from 2024. The Swabians are thus taking up a trend that has gripped the entire car industry. Ford is also planning to use the technology in its cars.

In Michigan, an LFP factory will be built specifically for this purpose at a cost of USD 3.5 billion, which will go into production from 2026. The factory will be built in cooperation with the Chinese CATL Group, which has always been a pioneer in electricity storage. Ford's mission sounds challenging, but according to experts, it should be achievable: The move towards lithium iron phosphate batteries should bring nothing less than more power, less charging time and a lower price. At a time when modern cars are measured less by chassis and engine and more by battery and software, Western carmakers, in particular, are under pressure to match the upstarts from BYD.

First Phosphate promotes the battery raw material of the future

While competing with the Chinese in the domestic market may be difficult, there is still hope in the US and Europe. The Canadian company First Phosphate is preparing to produce the phosphate needed for lithium iron phosphate in battery quality and to process it accordingly. To this end, the Company is operating a project in the Canadian province of Québec. "Our main properties are a maximum of 145 km from a deep-water port in Saguenay and are located near the city of Saguenay, which also has an airport. Other advantages include good road access and clean and economical energy from hydroelectric power. All of these factors ensure that we will be able to extract phosphate for the LFP battery and that we will also be able to do so in a completely environmentally sustainable way," First Phosphate CEO John Passalacqua commented in an interview at the end of March.

Up to now, phosphate has primarily been extracted for agriculture. Many production sites are reaching their limits, and a supply deficit is obvious. First Phosphate could enter the market at the right time with its Lac à L'Orignal project. At the end of the year, the Company plans to publish a preliminary economic assessment (PEA). But the key data so far are also impressive: "At Bégin-Lamarche, we have taken rock samples that show grades between 10 and 15%. These are excellent values for the region. We have started drilling at Bégin-Lamarche. The grades, the economic situation and the support from local interested parties are very promising," says Passalacqua, who sees further exploration potential. First Phosphate's successful IPO a few months ago also shows how promising the project is. Although the share price fell significantly during a capital increase, the new funds will be used for exploration. Especially because many carmakers are relying on lithium iron phosphate technology and building up capacities, the First Phosphate share could become even more interesting. The share is worth a look after the price drop.

Although the share of the Canadian mining company must be considered significantly more speculative than, for example, Mercedes-Benz or BYD, the investment story is at the same time less complex. While Mercedes-Benz has to fight against the market weakness in China and the backlog in battery technology and BYD, on the other hand, is struggling to get a foothold in the US and Europe, First Phosphate's phosphate deposits and project economics are the only decisive factors. The young company already has enough potential customers. As long as the step to production or the sale of the project succeeds, shareholders are likely to make their cut. CEO Passalacqua presents live at the International Investment Forum on May 10 at 2 p.m.. Interested participants can ask questions.