Goldman Sachs Out with Big Prediction for Electric Vehicle Sales

February 14, 2023 - Baystreet.ca


Electric vehicles sales are only set to accelerate. Governments want millions of them on the roads, as of yesterday. President Biden wants 50% of all new U.S. auto sales to be electric by 2030. Europe is targeting 50% EV sales penetration by 2030. In China, about 40%. However, for millions of EVs to hit the roads, the world needs far more lithium supply to keep up with heavy demand. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done at the moment, as we deal with strong demand and short supply. Even the IEA warns, “The supply of critical minerals crucial for technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles will have to be ramped up over the next decades if the planet’s climate targets are to be met.” That’s all great news for companies such as Usha Resources Ltd. (TSXV: USHA) (OTCQB: USHAF), General Motors (NYSE: GM), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC) (TSX: LAC), and Albemarle (NYSE: ALB).

Even better, according to Goldman Sachs, “The adoption of electric vehicles is rising sharply as the global push for net-zero carbon emissions accelerates. EVs will make up about half of new car sales worldwide by 2035. EV sales will soar to about 73 million units in 2040, up from around 2 million in 2020, according to forecasts by Goldman Sachs Research. The percentage of EVs in worldwide car sales, meanwhile, is expected to rise to 61% from 2% during that span. The share of EV sales is anticipated to be well over 80% in many developed countries.”

Look at Usha Resources Ltd. (TSXV: USHA) (OTCQB: USHAF), For Example

Usha Resources Ltd., a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of drill-ready lithium and other battery and precious metal projects, is pleased to announce the Company has now commenced drilling its second hole at its Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Property located in Clark County, Nevada, having successfully completed drill hole JP22-1 (see Usha Resources’ news release dated February 7, 2022).

JP22-2, located approximately 2.75 kilometres north-northwest of JP22-1, will target the “north lobe” of the Dry Lake Basin along Line 5 of the controlled source audio magnetotellurics/magnetotellurics (CSAMT/MT) survey as shown in Figure 1 below. Target depth for JP22-2 will be bedrock to a maximum of 2,000 feet with a goal of further examining and corroborating the identified basin geometry with a specific focus on higher porosity zones comprised of sand and conglomerate that should contain the greatest porosity within the basin aquifer and serve as a pumpable zone into which the fluids above can drain.

The CSAMT survey has defined a strong conductive anomaly that comprises the entirety of the Company's claim block (2,800 acres; 11.3 km2) and is open in all directions for expansion. The target is shallow, predominantly above bedrock depths of 625 meters, and is approximately 450 metres thick. The total basin within which the target is situated is estimated to be approximately 10,900 acres.

The first hole of the drill program, JP22-1, was completed to a total depth of 1,723 feet or 525 metres below grade along Line 2 of the CSAMT survey confirming:

- Support for a similar geologic setting to that of Clayton Valley, hosting Albemarle’s Silver Peak Nevada Lithium Mine, the only producing lithium mine in North America.

- Lithium is present in JP22-1 at a grade of up to 300 ppm within ten samples collected from shallow surface soils (<442 ft). The Project target was originally identified based on historical geophysical studies and 129 core samples collected by the USGS with an average lithium value of 175 ppm.

- Evaporitic crystallization, indicative of a brine-forming environment, extends to the top of the basal conglomerate, with interbedding, veining and inclusions increasing significantly beginning at a depth of 1,250 feet (381 metres). Interbedded zones included up to 90% evaporites.

- A higher porosity zone comprised of sand and conglomerate with evaporite crystallization was identified beginning at 1,629 feet that continued on to the bottom of the hole at 1,723 feet or 525 metres. Reaching this sand-conglomerate zone was a high priority for the program as it should contain the greatest porosity within the basin aquifer and serve as a pumpable zone into which the fluids above can drain. As per the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) completed by Pure Energy Minerals for their Clayton Valley project, their sand and conglomerate zone was identified to contain a large volume of brine with superior grades.

- Static water was present at approximately 146 feet. The total water column at the Project is anticipated to be greater than 1,577 feet or 481 metres.

Deepak Varshney, CEO of Usha Resources, commented: "We continue to be exceptionally pleased with the findings of the program so far. Completing the first hole was a milestone for the development of Jackpot Lake and we look forward to now proceeding with JP22-2 and the rest of the program as we move closer toward our goal of defining a 43-101 resource.”

Other related developments from around the markets include:

General Motors announced that its Board of Directors has declared a first quarter 2023 cash dividend on the company's outstanding common stock of $0.09 per share payable Thursday, March 16, 2023, to all common shareholders of record as of the close of trading on Friday, March 3, 2023. Also, in its most recent earnings release, the company reported third-quarter net income attributable to stockholders of $3.3 billion and EBIT-adjusted of $4.3 billion driven by record third-quarter revenue of $41.9 billion.

Tesla just noted that, “In the fourth quarter, we produced over 439,000 vehicles and delivered over 405,000 vehicles. In 2022, vehicle deliveries grew 40% YoY to 1.31 million while production grew 47% YoY to 1.37 million. We continued to transition towards a more even regional mix of vehicle builds which again led to a further increase in cars in transit at the end of the quarter.”

Lithium Americas announced it entered into a purchase agreement with General Motors pursuant to which GM will make a $650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas. In connection with the Transaction, the Company has provided an update on the construction plan for the Thacker Pass lithium project in Humboldt County, Nevada, including the release of an independent National Instrument 43-101 feasibility study. The agreement represents the largest-ever investment by an automaker to produce battery raw materials, with GM to become Lithium Americas’ largest shareholder. Lithium Americas to receive $650 million equity investment from GM consisting of $320 million first tranche investment for common shares representing 9.999% of Lithium Americas before separation; and $330 million second tranche investment, contemplated to be invested in the Company’s U.S. business following the separation of its U.S. and Argentine businesses.

Albemarle, a leader in the global specialty chemicals industry, today announced the official brand launch of Ketjen, its wholly owned subsidiary that crafts tailored, advanced catalyst solutions for the petrochemical, refining and specialty chemicals industries. The company shared the new name of its catalysts business in November 2022 after announcing plans to operate the business as a subsidiary. As a distinct brand, Ketjen will continue to support customers in their unique energy transition journeys from fluidized catalytic cracking to clean fuels to hydro-processing to organometallics and curatives. "As the industry responds to global market dynamics, our customers need innovative solutions to help them navigate their changing landscapes," said Ketjen President Raphael Crawford. "Ketjen will continue to provide its portfolio of advanced catalyst and specialty chemicals solutions, which are unique to each customer's needs, to increase production performance and business value."

Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Usha Resources Ltd. paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services to be distributed by Winning Media. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Winning Media owns ZERO shares of Usha Resources Ltd. Please click here for disclaimer.

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