On February 12th, 2010 ERAMET and BOLLORE signed an agreement for the exploration of lithium deposits in Argentina.
The white metal’s great electrochemical potential gives it unique properties that can be used to store and transport high electrical charges. Vehicle manufacturers are taking a close interest in lithium as it could be a strategic factor in electric car production.
ERAMET’S partner in this area is the BOLLORE Groupe, which has developed the Blue Car, an innovative electric vehicle. With bodywork by Pininfarina, the Blue Car has the specificity of running on a lithium battery developed by BOLLORE and should be on the market by the end of 2010.
The BOLLORE Groupe is drawing on ERAMET’s mining expertise: while lithium resources are abundant, the new deposits still have to be operated and new techniques developed to turn the ore into metal.
