Lithium producers prospering as price, and demand, increases globally.

General Electric is buying 25,000 electric vehicles, from a number of providers, including approx 12,000 Chevrolet Volts from GM. General Electric wants to own a large chunk of the battery charging market, which is expected to grow expotentially, as the EV and the hybrid electric vehicle, becomes more ubiquitous over the next few years. Owning an electric vehicle fleet is a high profile way of showing their support for the infant market in Electric Vehicle production.

The Nissan Leaf (all electric car) debuts next month and the initial run, a modest 40,000, is already pre-sold.

China (the country) announced two weeks ago that they are investing $15 Billion dollars in their electric vehicle industry. All around the world, lab rats are working on a better battery, and the common denominator in all of the research is the solf metal, lithium. LIthium ion, lithium air, lithium this and lithium that.

Currently, it is the mobile web (cell phones, smart phones, laptops, tablet computers etc) That is propelling the price of lithium carbonate (used in battery production) to $6600 per ton. (It was $2200 per ton in 2004)

The reason is that, in comparison to other compounds, lithium holds triple the charge, with half the density as other compounds utilized in battery production. The good news for investors, is that the industry growing around the electrification of the transportation system, the mobile web system, and the energy storage needed for wind and solar energy, is focused around this growing precious resource.

The electric vehicle market hasn't yet made a dent in lithium prices, simply because production is only ramping up this year. As that market grows, so grows the demand (and price) for lithium.

In this writers opinion, this is the investment story (and opportunity) of the next decade, if not the next 50 years.

It is why I have been writing so much about this industry in these pages, for a year now. It is why I am invested and have my money where my mouth is. It is also why these stocks are up between 25 and 400% this year.

Here is a list of the lithium companies, starting with the four largest suppliers currently in operation as well as a number of wanna be, juniors, with great properties and great potential for either development, takeovers or both.

I own 5 of these stocks. (one of the big four and 4 of the juniors) I am continuously looking at other plays in the sector as they develop.

Lithium Stocks:

There are four lithium companies currently producing lithium on the world market that can be labelled, essentially, the BIG FOUR. They are:


1. SQM de Chile S.A. (NYSE-SQM)
2. Talison Lithium (TSE-TLH)*
3. Rockwood Holdings (Chemetell) (NYSE-ROC)
4. FMC Corp (NYSE-FMC)

Currently, these four companies produce 85% of the worlds lithium.

The other 15% is spread among smaller producers and junior miners.

Here is a list of most of those companies, in order, which may or may not be on your radar screen as investors in this sector, but should be.

5.Rodinia Lithium (formerly Rodinia minerals) (TSX V:RM)
6.Western Lithium (TSX V:WLC)
7.TNR Gold Corp (TSX V:TNR)*
8.Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY)
9.Orocobre (ASX:ORE)
10. Canada Lithium (TSX V:CLQ)
11. First Lithium (TSX V:MCI)*
12. Reed Resources (ASX:RDR)
13. Linear Metals (TSX:LRM
14. Electric Metal Inc (TSX.EMI)
15. Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX.LMR)

You can guess which 5 of these stocks I own, or you can do your own due dilligence. These 15 stocks are a great place to start that.

I hope your Retirefund grows expotentially, like this market will, and is already doing.

HP

*TSX listing helps Lithium Giant increase output - Financial Post*
Rodina Lithium Sept 2010 drill results
Largest supplier of lithium into China, goes public
China charges into Electric Vehicle market
Rodina Lithium to present alongside major auto and battery makers at U.S. conference
Lithium, gold and REEs in one penny stock
Lithium demand will increase four fold by 2017