China’s EV plan to fuel battery metals demand

摘要

A plan by the Chinese government to install more charging outlets for electric vehicles (EVs) is expected to increase demand for metals used in batteries. The growth could also increase competition for needle petroleum coke. This coke can be used as a feedstock in these lithium-ion batteries, which is part of why prices for needle coke have increased substantially this year. China is on track to meet a production target of 700,000 EVs in 2017, with producers stepping up output in the last two months of the year. But there are only around 180,000 installed charging points.