TNR Gold Corp.: International Lithium Commences 2010 Exploration Program at Sarcobatus Flats, Nevada TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, ROC, CLQ.v,

Lithium ABCs.

"The world’s future energy course is being charted today because of the ramifications of peak oil and a need to reduce our carbon footprints.A whole new industry - a global wide automotive and industrial lithium-ion battery industry - is going to be built. As a result of lithium-ion battery demand for hybrid-electric and electric cars the increase in demand for lithium carbonate is expected to increase four-fold by 2017.Lithium-ion batteries have become the rechargeable battery of choice in cell phones, computers, hybrid-electric cars and electric cars. Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saturn, Tesla and Toyota have all announced plans to build lithium-ion battery powered cars.Demand for lithium powered vehicles is expected to increase fivefold by 2012. The worldwide market for lithium batteries is estimated at over $4 billion per year."

Jay's Watch List March 30th Show featured TNR Gold Corp.

"Company update:
TNR Gold Corp. TSX: TNR
TNR Gold Corp. has entered into a letter agreement with Cricket Capital Corp. on the Company's 100% owned Forgan Lake property located 125km northeast of Thunder Bay, OntarioIn addition, the Company has commenced drilling at the Mariana Lithium brine project in Argentina, and it has increased its land position in Nevada to 5,285 hectares through staking and has commenced a geophysical program on its Mud Lake project, Nye County, Nevada. The Company proposed to waive the production of a feasibility study and exercise its right to acquire 25% of the northern half of the properties for Minera Andes' Los Azules Project in Argentina.
TNR established June 8, 2010 as a date of the meeting date for shareholder approval of the previously announced spin-out of TNR's lithium and rare metals assets into its wholly-owned subsidiary, International Lithium Corp. TNR shareholders of record on the date of the spinout, planned for late June or early July, will receive one share and one fully tradable warrant of International Lithium Corp. for every 4 shares of TNR."

TNR Gold Corp.: International Lithium Commences 2010 Exploration Program at Sarcobatus Flats, Nevada

Press Release Source: TNR Gold Corp. On Friday April 30, 2010, 1:00 pm EDT
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 30, 2010) - TNR Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:TNR - News; "TNR" or the "Company") and wholly-owned International Lithium Corp. ("ILC") are pleased to announce the Company has commenced the 2010 exploration program at the Sarcobatus Flats project, Nye County, Nevada as part of the Company's plan to systematically explore and evaluate all of its' Nevada projects.
Key Highlights:
-- Commencement of gravity survey at Sarcobatus Flats project, Nevada;

-- Completion of gravity survey at Mud Lake project, Nevada;

-- Expansion of Nevada lithium brine project holdings to 5,285 hectares; and

-- Full commitment to a systematic geophysical exploration of the Company's entire Nevada holdings.

Nevada Lithium Brine Project Update
The geophysical crew has successfully completed a detailed gravity survey on the Mud Lake project and has commenced an initial phase of geophysics on the Sarcobatus Flats project in Nye County, Nevada, as part of a systematic exploration approach across the Company's entire Nevada project areas. Processing of the Mud Lake geophysical data is underway and the results will be available shortly.
The geophysical stage of exploration maps structural features in the subsurface that may form traps for brine. These features are then used to generate and prioritize drill targets.
Nevada Projects
The Mud Lake Project is located 16 kilometres southeast of Tonopah in the Ralston Valley, Nevada covering 2,914 hectares in Nye County and is readily accessible year round. The Ralston basin, which contains Mud Lake, appears to have similar geological features that provided both a source and trap for lithium brines found in Clayton Valley which is located 47 kilometres west from the property. Chemetall-Foote Corp's Silver Peak operation, located in Clayton Valley, is the only lithium brine producer in North America and has been in operation since 1966.
The Sarcobatus Flats Project is a desert playa (dry lake bed) located in Nye County, western Nevada along state route 95 approximately 109 kilometres south of Tonopah and 72 kilometres southeast of Clayton Valley and consists of 105 placer claims totaling 1,076 hectares. Highly anomalous concentrations of lithium, ranging between 210 and 340ppm Li, have been encountered from a preliminary surface sediment sampling program conducted on the Sarcobatus Flats claim group. As with the Company's other Nevada projects, there are many close similarities between Sarcobatus Flats and a Clayton Valley type lithium brine deposit. The property is located in a closed structural basin, contains similar stratigraphy and occupies a lacustrine environment with the same regional hydrogeography and geochemistry as Clayton Valley. In essence, Sarcobatus Flats represents an under-explored early stage analogue to Clayton Valley.
The Fish Lake Project is located 75 kilometres southwest of Tonopah in the Fish Lake Valley, Nevada covering 1,295 hectares in Esmeralda County. International Lithium believes Fish Lake Valley has similar geological features that have acted as a trap for lithium brines in Clayton Valley 35 kilometres to the east. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) sampling at Fish Lake Valley in 1976 found lithium brines on surface. One of these samples, located on TNR claims, contained 200 parts per million (ppm) lithium. This shows that modern Fish Lake Valley has geological and climatic conditions where lithium brine can form. At Clayton Valley drilling has shown that as climatic conditions went through cycles, successive layers of lithium bearing evaporates were deposited.
Mr. John Harrop is the Company's qualified person on the Nevada projects as required under NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL LITHIUM CORP. / TNR GOLD CORP.
International Lithium Corp, currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of TNR, is a Canada-based resource company focused on the exploration and development of new sources of lithium and rare metals. With quality projects spanning the globe from Argentina, USA, Canada, and Ireland, ILC offers investors the advantage of rapid development of lithium brine resources to production and the benefits of rare metals credits found in spodumene pegmatites. With the increased prominence of electric cars and lithium batteries, ILC expects lithium demand to rise in the near future. The Company aims to address this demand through leveraging the combined of its proven management and technical experts.
TNR is a diversified metals exploration company focused on identifying and exploring its existing properties and identifying new prospective projects globally. TNR has a total portfolio of 18 properties, of which 9 will be included in the proposed spin-off of International Lithium Corp.
The recent acquisition of lithium, rare metals and rare-earth elements projects in Argentina, Canada, USA and Ireland confirms TNR and ILC's commitments to generating projects, diversifying their markets, and building shareholder value.
On behalf of the board,
Gary Schellenberg, President
Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
CUSIP: #87260X 109
SEC 12g3-2(b): Exemption #82-4434
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

We have a position in this company, please, do not consider anything as an investment advise, as usual, on this blog.

EV mass market and Lithium Demand: China is Ready for EVs TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, HEV, AONE, VLNC, GM, BYDDY,

"Price competition will drive Electric Cars mass market. Chinese companies will have yet to prove that they can claim auto brand properties, but cost wise they are out of competition. Once thousands of engineers working in China on lithium batteries, safety and design of Electric Cars convert quantity into quality this market will take off in iPod fashion."

GM Volt:

China is Ready for EVs, and Its a Big Opportunity for GM.

China’s automotive fleet is rapidly expanding. Last year the Chinese market overtook the US to become the world largest automotive market, and sales are expected to continue to expand 55% to 13.55 million passenger vehicles per year by 2015.
The country is currently the third largest consumer of oil in the world with all of Europe a close second and the US number one. As China’s volume of vehicles continue to increase along with economic growth so too will their oil demand. China will pass the US and become the world’s largest oil consumer within a few years and thereafter continue to expand consumption. China is already importing more than 50% of its oil.
Fortunately, there is already great demand among the Chinese population for electric cars. GM plans to sell the Chevrolet Volt there and several Chinese automakers including BYD have already begun to sell electric cars in the country. Nissan is considering selling the LEAF in China as well.
A recent poll performed by Ernst and Young revealed that a shocking 60% of Chinese consumers are interested in purchasing a plug-in car. This is five times the rate in the US or any other country.
The Chinese government has also expressed great interest in promoting plugin cars, to help stave off foreign oil dependence. The government has already designated 20 cities to deploy extensive plugin charging infrastructure, and have set a production goal of 500,000 “new energy” cars by 2015. A massive series of incentives and subsidies to encourage electric car adoption will be announced in July.
Despite all the obvious benefits, one leading Chinese auto executive isn’t so sure this is a good idea.
Huang Xiangdong, who is vice president of Guangzhou Automobile Group Corp that has ventures with Honda, noted that 83% of Chinese electricity is produced by burning coal.
“Battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids do not save more energy than conventional cars on a well-to-wheel analysis,” said Huang. “We think in China it’s not the right time to promote pure electric vehicles.”
While reducing CO2 production is important to some, as in the US, concerns of oil dependence loom large.
“There are broader benefits of electric vehicles, such as reducing the dependence on foreign oil,” Henry Li, general manager of BYD’s auto export trade division.
Irrespective of any naysayers, clearly the Chinese electric automotive market is poised to become extremely large and profitable to automakers who are successful there. As the first foreign firm to get a foothold there, GM has much to benefit from selling electric cars there, and much of the company’s future profit could be tied to it.
“China is currently a larger market by volume than the US,” says GM spokesperson Tom Wilkinson
“It is probably our second or third most important market and growing faster than either the US or Europe,” he says. “In short, it is pretty important.”
So although we’d all like to see the exciting new Chevrolet Volt MP5 concept go on sale in the US, it should be fairly apparent why GM chose to unveil it in China. In fact it was actually produced in partnership with venture partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Anyway the MPV5 according to GM spokesperson Dave Darovitz “is a concept only.”
“No plans for production,” he adds.
Source (Detroit News) , (photo from Autoblog)"

EV mass market: Brussels Outlines Plans for Electric Cars TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC ORE.ax, ABN.v, HAO.v, HEV, AONE

There are Electric Cars, safe technology for reliable batteries and Lithium availible for them: there is no execuse not to start Electric Mobility revolution today.

EV mass market will be started with standardization for safety and recharging infrastructure for Electric Cars. Hydrogen is lighting years away from mass adoption on cost and needed infrastructure crucial points. All the talk about dirty EVs is the old song from the Oil lobby guys. Electric Car is the only viable alternative to Oil driven CE, which is available today. By the way, every Hydrogen car needs a battery as well. Lithium supply for the batteries is not a question of existence or dependence on anybody's political will, it is available in safe locations and there is no excuse not to advance Electric Cars now. Last events in Europe reminded about the feeling to be Grounded - with ash this time, how the world is going to live with Oil above 150 USD/barrel?

Bloombeg Businessweek:

Brussels Outlines Plans for Electric Cars
Saying that cross-border standards for safety and rechargers will be critical to the success of electric vehicles, the European Commission has laid out a timetable
By Leigh Phillips
The European Commission on Wednesday (28 April) outlined a plan to get electric cars off the drawing board and onto the streets of Europe.
Central to the EU's plan for shifting away from the internal combustion engine is developing a series of European standards that everyone will adhere to.
"Without strong standardisation work, I think it will be difficult to develop a market for electric cars," said industry commissioner Antonio Tajani.
"These aren't just curiosities in motor shows any more. They are being keenly awaited by European citizens. It's important for citizens to be able to cross borders and still charge their cars."
Ensuring that there is a standardised charger is core to the strategy. Brussels does not want citizens to be as frustrated with their green vehicle as they are with a hair dryer in a foreign hotel when they've forgotten to buy an adapter.
The commission hopes to have electrical safety standards outlined by the end of 2010.
Then, next year, standards for the recharging of cars will be developed, and the following year, 2012, the commission wants to analyse the risks involved when such cars are involved in collisions.
The commission believes that hydrogen fuel-cell cars are one of "most promising options."
Responding to the plan announced today, Ian Williamson, the vice-chair of the UK Hydrogen Association said he was pleased with the strategy: "Hydrogen battery hybrid vehicles will be key to creating a low carbon transport infrastructure throughout Europe because, unlike pure electric vehicles, they offer consumers the same range, speed and fuelling times of conventional vehicles."
Green groups cautiously welcomed the news while underscoring that electric cars are only truly green if the electricity used comes from genuinely renewable sources. If the electricity is coming from coal-fired power plants, for example, this is just pushing the carbon emissions away from the vehicle but not tackling the root of the problem, they say.
"The Commission hasn't addressed two of the most critical issues, namely ensuring that the extra electricity needed will boost renewable sources and the need for smart meters in every vehicle to keep track of consumption and the carbon intensity of electricity," said Jos Dings, director of Transport & Environment, a green transit NGO.
"These two issues will be critical to ensuring that electric cars actually reduce emissions."
Provided by EUobserver—For the latest EU related news"

Argentina & Mining 101: Los Azules mining plan. TNR.v, CZX.v, MAI.to, ABX, FCX, RTP, BHP, LUN.to, AUY, BVN, FXI, HUI, XAU,

Jay's Watch List March 30th Show featured TNR Gold Corp.
Company update:
TNR Gold Corp. TSX: TNR

"TNR Gold Corp. has entered into a letter agreement with Cricket Capital Corp. on the Company's 100% owned Forgan Lake property located 125km northeast of Thunder Bay, OntarioIn addition, the Company has commenced drilling at the Mariana Lithium brine project in Argentina, and it has increased its land position in Nevada to 5,285 hectares through staking and has commenced a geophysical program on its Mud Lake project, Nye County, Nevada. The Company proposed to waive the production of a feasibility study and exercise its right to acquire 25% of the northern half of the properties for Minera Andes' Los Azules Project in Argentina.
TNR established June 8, 2010 as a date of the meeting date for shareholder approval of the previously announced spin-out of TNR's lithium and rare metals assets into its wholly-owned subsidiary, International Lithium Corp. TNR shareholders of record on the date of the spinout, planned for late June or early July, will receive one share and one fully tradable warrant of International Lithium Corp. for every 4 shares of TNR."

We have a position in this company, please, do not consider anything as an investment advise, as usual, on this blog.

Argentina & Mining 101:

What do you need for a succesful mine?

With a grass roots projects developing into a resource, and advancing to pre-feasibility reports and eventual production, it's a good idea to understand what's involved in a mining project.

1. The pit (ore body open pit)(see left image)Congrats, you found high grade % copper, now what?The ideal scenario involves digging a humongous hole in the ground, via a systematic earth removal process such that you create the leftover open pit as shown on the left.

2. Transport the Ore (heavy rocks)Ore, unprocessed, is worth very little. Naturally, you'd have your precious gold or copper mixed with ordinary rocks and other byproducts. The idea here is to minimize the distance you have to transport these to your processing belt or factory, so you can start crushing and filtering out the valuable bits!As you can see driving heavy duty 500 tonne trucks up these large pits can be quite costly on gas!

3. Start refining your ore Once you have the ore at your factory it's time to fire up the conveyor belt. Crushing, refining, leaching, are all typical ways to separate your high grade minerals from the low-grade rocks. Do this well enough and you should be able to retain 90%+ of your estimated resource from raw ore - that is to say you don't waste too much in the way of getting rid of minerals within the ore during the separation process! From there it goes through several steps of refinement until you reach a sellable end product for your customers - usually in forms of molly, raw mineral products, and in some cases finished pellets for melting into final products.

4. Disposal of waste and tailingsWait, you think the government and environmental agencies will let you leave a big hole with waste rocks lying around after you extract the valuable minerals? Not quite! Tailings (also known as slimes, tailings pile, tails, leach residue, or slickens[1]) are the materials left over[2] after the process of separating the valuable fraction from the worthless fraction (gangue) of an ore. To properly dispose of these tailings (often still riddled with chemicals from acid leaching and chemical separation processes), significant efforts are put in to make sure environmental impacts are minimized. Some would argue, tailings and waste process facilities are the single biggest economic barriers to a mine being successful. Further, you'd want to have a site nearby (ideally downhill) where you can, for a low cost, get rid of your tailings and pile them up for isolation processing later..."

MORE.

Energy Report: 'Cobalt, lithium demand is going to be tremendous’ TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, F, HEV, AONE, VLNC,

"Interesting note from Canaccord on Lithium and TNR Gold has been mentioned with International Lithium spin out - company gets onto the radar screens and results from announced exploration programs will drive performance of the new focused Lithium exploration and development play with properties in Argentina, Nevada, Canada and Ireland."

CommodityOnline:

"'Cobalt, lithium demand is going to be tremendous’
Published on: April 27, 2010 at 12:10

In this exclusive interview with The Energy Report, Gordon Monk of Performance Capital Advisers discusses the worldwide movement toward green sources for energy production. Gordon explains how cobalt and lithium are linked to solar and wind power. He also talks about why he prefers primary producers of cobalt to those that obtain cobalt as a byproduct of other operations.

The Energy Report: Gordon, your focus these days is on moving from conventional energy to green energy. What particular sectors of green energy are you focused on?

Gordon Monk: There are a number of sectors that I'm interested in. There's been a tremendous move of capital to wind in recent years. Certainly solar is another area that's also gaining a lot of attention. One of the areas that I'm focused on right now would be hybrid electric vehicles, specifically the batteries containing cobalt.

TER: There have been some failures with batteries containing cobalt. Some reports indicate there is a small possibility of those batteries catching fire. Do you have some information that you could share with us on this topic?

GM: As I understand it, the problems associated with those batteries had to do with overheating. The chemistry was such that the batteries would release a small amount of oxygen, which then creates the chance of possible combustion. There's been a lot of technology focused on the problem. Modern batteries now are equipped with microchips that control the discharge conditions of batteries. There have also been additives to the batteries which have more or less solved the problem. With the problems being solved, the benefits of using those batteries far outweigh the negatives of the past.

TER: Do you see cobalt continuing to be used in these types of batteries?

GM: Oh, absolutely. A report by J.P. Morgan suggests that the current output of around 740,000 units is going to increase to 12.9 million by 2020. So I think that in itself is a pretty strong indication that cobalt is here to stay.

TER: What do you find interesting about wind and solar companies? Their potential?

GM: Yes, it falls into the whole movement to green. In recent years there's just a tremendous focus on the environment and the environmental problems associated with conventional energy. I can speak to oil and gas and coal, the usual culprits. I find solar and wind fascinating because they solve a lot of the problems associated with greenhouse gas emissions. The capital flows that are going into these areas suggest to me that they are here to stay. I think there are tremendous opportunities in the space.

TER: How is cobalt connected to solar and wind technologies?

GM: Cobalt plays a role in renewable solar panel technology and wind generation. Cobalt is also used as a super alloy in wind turbines.

TER: So you see increased demand for cobalt because of wind and solar technologies, in addition to batteries?

GM: Yes, because of the batteries and because of the green movement in general. Cobalt is not just found in batteries and that's something that's key. I think a lot people misunderstand that. Batteries currently account for around 26% of the market for cobalt. Super alloys, which include turbine blades and heat-resistant steel, account for another 23% to 25% of the market. It's underappreciated about what it can do.

TER: Cobalt is generally thought of as a byproduct of other operations. Is that correct?

GM: Yes, that's right. Cobalt comes as a byproduct from copper, as well as nickel, historically. As I said, only 15% of world production comes from pure cobalt. I'd like to see more, just because it won't be a slave to other metals in terms of output. So if we can have more primary cobalt producers, things are going to be a lot better from a stability standpoint.

TER: If the demand for cobalt continues to go up, do you see companies starting to produce cobalt exclusively?

GM: Yes and no. I think that's why the opportunity really lies with the primary cobalt producers. That could happen, but when you start taking a look at the percentages of cobalt that are coming out as a byproduct, I don't really see any scenario where they'd necessarily switch to extracting just to get the cobalt. I think the opportunities again lay with the primaries.

TER: Looking at green technology, what sort of timeframe do you see before things really start to get active?

GM: I think the argument can be made that things are already starting to get active in the area. You're starting to see orders in the billions of dollars for units for these hybrid electric vehicles, HEVs. So I think we're just getting started in terms of the space right now. It's a movement. This green movement is unstoppable at this point with all of the focus on the environmental issues. I should also like to point out that I'm one of those who believe that cobalt has a relationship to the price of oil. We've seen oil moving up in recent times. That's an influence on cobalt and on these hybrid electric vehicles. That influence is from a substitution standpoint. That's only going to increase awareness and I think increase demand for substitutes.

TER: With the increasing amount of focus on the green technologies, what's the long-term impact going to be on conventional energy sources?

GM: That's a good question. I think conventional is here for a while. It's just so ingrained in the economies of the world. These movements to green, while they are tiny as compared to consumption, the movements themselves are significant enough where these kinds of metals—cobalt, lithium—they can't be ignored. Because when you start putting these on a chart, when you look at the demand perspective, it looks like a hockey stick. The demand is just going to be tremendous. It's going to take a long time to replace conventional, if ever. As long as this green movement is going on, and people start caring about the environment, there's going to be tremendous up pressure.

TER: Is that going to increase as governments start instituting more restrictions on conventional sources?

GM: I think so. It's not necessarily restrictions on conventional, but rather requirements on hybrid. There have been a number of initiatives in recent times where carbon emissions have to be cut by "x," or total energy production needs to come from green sources. So it's not like they're saying you have to stop. What they're saying is more that it is going to have to come from these other areas. So, yes, to a certain extent legislative action will play a role.

TER: Where does the investment opportunity lie for green technologies? Are these companies actually doing a lot of development, or is it that they're purchased by larger companies?

GM: You know that's a very interesting question. If I was a large multinational producer, I'd be looking at replacing my traditional revenue models. If you've got the opportunity to do that by acquiring profitable companies in the green tech space I'd absolutely do that. You're going to see a lot of these companies start off as fledging green producers of energy, and then be acquired by the larger companies as a way of those bigger companies augmenting traditional revenue models. So absolutely there's going to be lots of pick-ups.

TER: Are you seeing any opportunities in natural gas? Some people are saying that there simply isn't enough supply, while others insist there's really going to be an opportunity going forward. GM: I'm one of those at this point that agree with the supply issues that you've mentioned. There's been technology, like horizontal fracking, which basically makes available a tremendous amount of natural gas from historical traditional sources. So it's going to take a while for the supply to clear out. That's sort of the short-term view. I think the long-term view is it's a cleaner source. We're going to continue to need power. I look at China as essentially going through the industrial revolution right now, and just barely scraping the surface of what total consumption ultimately will be there. So I don't think you can really discount any source certainly in the long run.

TER: Do you consider natural gas a green technology, or more of a conventional energy source? GM: I look at it more as conventional. Just by virtue of it still being a fossil fuel.

TER: The LME recently issued its first warrants for cobalt. How do you think it's going to impact cobalt in general?

GM: I'm glad they did that to cobalt and to moly as well. It's going to be great for the companies to basically price hedge. You're able to lock in the price that you sell cobalt for. It smoothes the peaks and valleys of price fluctuations. It adds a level of transparency as well to the metal. Certainly from a tracking standpoint it's a whole lot easier to find it. It's a leveler. It's a hedger. I think it's a great development for cobalt.

TER: Lithium and cobalt are linked, of course, because of lithium-cobalt batteries. Lithium has been the hot story in the energy markets. Do you see cobalt creating the same kind of buzz? GM: Yes. I think it's a matter of awareness. Absolutely lithium has had just a tremendous amount of buzz. There was a while there, when I was a broker, that you'd be seeing little lithium companies spreading up all over the place. The second they had a press release that there was lithium you'd see the price spike. I think that the same potential exists for cobalt, but you know, again, it's just about awareness. I don't think people understand how important cobalt is in HEVs, as well as the other uses, such as the super alloys that I mentioned. I think the awareness is going to catch up, and therein lays the opportunity.

TER: Are there any other energy sectors that you're keeping an eye on?

GM: Oil and gas is certainly an area that I've had some experience in. I think it's interesting that we're creeping up again in the price. We'll see if that backs off.

TER: Do you see oil at some point going much higher than it is right now, or getting to the $100 per barrel point again?

GM: It's funny how you start hearing those comments as it starts creeping up to $100. I don't know. I think it's due for probably a correction to the downside. I have trouble seeing why it is where it is right now.

TER: China is growing massively in their industrial revolution and requesting a lot of solar investments. What are some interesting plays for investors?

GM: The China question is interesting to me from an investor standpoint. A lot of the investments you see going on in China involve a lot of private companies being formed, private companies raising money in the solar space. Obviously investors can't participate in that. Again, it's almost a cobalt story because these technologies also require large amounts of batteries, and by extension, cobalt. So it's difficult perhaps to play it directly, but again it comes back to cobalt. TER: Critics complain that a lot of these green technologies, such as solar and wind energy, are only surviving because of government subsidies. Do you agree with that? What happens if those government subsidies are removed?

GM: Well, it's a technology question, isn't it? It's taken government subsidies to get them to where they are right now, and subsidies are also driving technologies to make them more efficient, which then brings the cost down. It's a profitability paradigm. We've already seen tremendous developments in alternative energies, which are now almost as cost effective when you compare them against the price of, let's say, oil. We're going to get to a point where these things are profitable on their own, if they aren't already. Aside from that there's this global movement towards green. People want to stop killing the planet, to put it bluntly. So I think all of these technologies that I referenced are here to stay.

TER: Gordon, we appreciate your input. By arrangement with: http://www.theenergyreport.com/"

Jay Taylor Watch List "In Our Sights": TNR Gold corp.: TNR.v, CZX.v, MAI.to, ABX, NG.to, WLC.v, CLQ.v, RM.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, GOOG, AAPL, FCX, RIMM, F

"TNR Gold Corp. is employing the project generator model. For those of you who may not know what a project generator model is, a word of explanation is in order. “Project generators” are companies that pick up early stage exploration ground when there are historical or scientific reasons to believe a property is prospective for a given mineral. Because these properties are obtained at an early stage of development, the cost of obtaining them is very low.As a project generator, TNR then uses its intellectual capital rather than hard currency capital to add value to its shareholders. By carrying out relatively low cost early exploration work, it demonstrates with greater confidence, the potential for a given property to host an economically viable mineral deposit. At that point in time, TNR hopes to bring in other companies that are willing and able to spend considerably more money to explore and advance those prospects toward production. TNR will generally retain a carried interest in those prospects into the future or at least a Net Smelter Return on any future production from the property. The prospect generator model is in theory a less risky model because, if other companies are spending considerable amounts of money, they can reduce the number of shares issued to raise capital."

Jay's Watch List March 30th Show featured TNR Gold Corp.

Company update:

TNR Gold Corp. TSX: TNR

TNR Gold Corp. has entered into a letter agreement with Cricket Capital Corp. on the Company's 100% owned Forgan Lake property located 125km northeast of Thunder Bay, OntarioIn addition, the Company has commenced drilling at the Mariana Lithium brine project in Argentina, and it has increased its land position in Nevada to 5,285 hectares through staking and has commenced a geophysical program on its Mud Lake project, Nye County, Nevada. The Company proposed to waive the production of a feasibility study and exercise its right to acquire 25% of the northern half of the properties for Minera Andes' Los Azules Project in Argentina.

TNR established June 8, 2010 as a date of the meeting date for shareholder approval of the previously announced spin-out of TNR's lithium and rare metals assets into its wholly-owned subsidiary, International Lithium Corp. TNR shareholders of record on the date of the spinout, planned for late June or early July, will receive one share and one fully tradable warrant of International Lithium Corp. for every 4 shares of TNR."

We have a position in this company, please, do not consider anything as an investment advise, as usual, on this blog.

Goldstone Resources: Premier expands NN Zone mineralization at Hardrock including 22.97 g/t Au across 24.8 metres GRC.to, PG.to, GG, NEM, ABX, FCX,

Premier Gold delivers another set of very impressive results in this Canadian Gold discovery play. Resources will have a nice boost later this year with this kind of intercepts! Stock is due to rebound on the technicals above.

Premier expands NN Zone mineralization at Hardrock including 22.97 g/t Au across 24.8 metres

April 26 /CNW/ - PREMIER GOLD MINES LIMITED (TSX:PG - News) is pleased to announce that drilling continues to expand near-surface mineralization at the Hardrock Project in Northwestern Ontario. Current drilling is targeting both open pit and underground style zones with the 2010 program aimed at increasing the current gold resource. Recent expansion drilling in the NN Zone has returned some of the best intersections to-date in this horizon including:
- 22.97 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) across 24.8 metres (m) (0.67 oz/ton across 81.4 feet) contained within 43.3 m grading 13.42 g/t Au (0.39 oz/ton across 143.0 feet) in hole MM117

- 7.87 g/t Au across 19.8 m (or 0.23 oz/ton across 65.0 feet) in hole MM105

- 2.20 g/t Au across 41.4 m (0.06 oz/ton across 135.8 feet) in hole MM113

- 2.25 g/t Au across 24.5 m (0.07 oz/ton across 80.4 feet) in hole MM099

- High Grade intercepts up to 164.36 g/t Au across 3.3 m (4.80 oz/ton across 10.8 feet)

Drilling in the NN Zone continues to expand mineralization up-dip,down-dip and along strike. Mineralization in the main pit area, which includesthe NN and EP Zones, has now been defined over a strike length of some 1.4kilometres and remains open to the west. The NN Zone has the potential to hostsignificant open-pit and underground style resources as further demonstratedby previously released intersections that include 6.42g/t Au across 22.4m(0.24 oz/ton across 73.5 feet) in hole MM040, 39.15g/t Au across 3.6m (1.14oz/ton across 11.8 feet) in hole MM048 and 6.91 g/t Au across 18.7 m (0.20oz/ton across 61.4 feet) in hole MM074.
"Drilling in the NN Zone continues to intersect some of the highest grade near-surface mineralization on the Property that could be mined by open pit methods in the early stages of potential operations at Hardrock," stated Ewan Downie, President of Premier. "These results bolster the significant resources already defined on the Property and demonstrate the excellent potential to materially increase resources in 2010".
The NN Zone is one of several potential open pit zones that comprise the "Main Area" at Hardrock that was subject to a NI43-101 compliant resource announced earlier in 2010. The expected future addition of the Kailey deposit, which is separate from the Main Area, and the current expansion drilling in the NN Zone continues to suggest the potential for the Hardrock Project to host a multi-million ounce gold resource.
The current drilling is focused on defining and expanding the limits of a large mineralized system within the NN Zone area of the Northern Iron Formation with two drill rigs. The plunge of the NN Zone is shallow to the west and it remains open for expansion. Recent drilling down dip continues to confirm wide zones of mineralization within the NN Zone. New drill results from the NN Zone are contained in Table 1.

More.

Lithium and TNR Gold in Canaccord Junior Mining Weekly TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, ABN.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, HEV, AONE, AAPL, GOOG, F,

"Iconic brands will deliver the message - Electric Cars are not Toys any more. Fisker Karma and AMG SLS eDrive will be among trendsetters and mass market in EV will follow. It will be Cool to be Green. Lithium Demand will be next to become a serious game in town."

Interesting note from Canaccord on Lithium and TNR Gold has been mentioned with International Lithium spin out - company gets onto the radar screens and results from announced exploration programs will drive performance of the new focused Lithium exploration and development play with properties in Argentina, Nevada, Canada and Ireland.

"Lithium market: Toyota, previously a detractor of lithium-ion battery technology, has
announced that it will launch a competitively priced Prius hybrid minivan in 2011
using lithium-ion batteries. The batteries will initially be produced in-house but will
shift to the new joint venture plant being constructed with Panasonic. Mitsubishi is
manufacturing the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), currently available
in Japan. Batteries are currently produced at the Kusatsu plant owned by the Lithium
Energy Japan (LEJ) joint venture between Mitsubishi and GS Yuasa in two lines
producing 600,000 cells per annum. GS Yatsua is installing a line at its Kyoto plant,
which is expected to be in production in December 2010 at 1 million cells per annum.
LEJ has now decided to build a new JPY37.5 billion (US$408 million) plant in Ritto,
Japan capable of producing 4.4 million cells per annum. By the end of 2012, the three
plants, with a capacity of 6 million cells per annum, should be able to supply the
lithium-ion batteries for 68,000 e-cars. Although now joined at the hip, Renault
(controlled by Nissan) and Daimler see the future in electrification but have
competing visions when comes to battery technology. Daimler will spend US$2.7
billion over the next two years in that space while Renault-Nissan has budgeted over
US$5.5 billion by 2011. Daimler is working in partnership with Evonik of Germany
and BYD of China, while Renault-Nissan is partnered with NEC of Japan, but both are
focused on lithium-ion battery chemistries.
Lithium equities in brief: On the lithium exploration front, Nemaska Exploration
(NMX : TSX-V : C$0.42 Not rated) continues to expand and demonstrate the
continuity of the wholly owned Whabouchi project in northern Québec. Highlight
intersections of recently released results from the current exploration program
include 92.1m grading 1.39% Li2O and 133 ppm Be and 77.8m grading 1.49% Li2O
and 170 ppm Be. Four new spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been discovered
within 10 to 50m south of the main zone. Consolidated Abaddon (ABN : TSX-V :
C$0.08 Not rated) is also part of the “lithium mine race” with its Raleigh Lake
lithium and rare earth element property in northwestern Ontario. The company has
just completed a seven-hole 1,464 metre drill program with a highlight hit of 9.0m
grading 1.30% Li2O and 0.18% rubidium. TNR Gold (TNR : TSX-V : C$0.27 Not
rated) is spinning out its lithium and rare earth projects into International Lithium Corp. (ILC). TNR shareholders will vote on the idea at a meeting set for 8 June 2010.
If approved, TNR shareholders will receive 0.25 of an ILC share and 0.25 warrants
of ILC for each TNR share held. Drilling has commenced on the Mariana lithium
brine project in Argentina, which TNR is not immediately putting into the ILC spinout, with a three-hole program. In Nevada, ILC has increased its land position to
5,285 ha and commenced geophysical surveying. Also in Nevada, Black Hawk
Exploration (BHWX : OTCBB : US$0.53 Not rated) returned weak results of up to
23.4 mg/L lithium in drill hole BMP-1 on the company’s Clayton Valley lithium
project. The hole returned an average of 20.2 mg/L over 128 metres."

EV mass market: 60 percent of Chinese consumers would consider buying electric vehicles TNR.v, CZX.v. LMR.v, RM.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, LI.v, CLQ.v, AONE, F

"Price competition will drive Electric Cars mass market. Chinese companies will have yet to prove that they can claim auto brand properties, but cost wise they are out of competition. Once thousands of engineers working in China on lithium batteries, safety and design of Electric Cars convert quantity into quality this market will take off in iPod fashion."

Alibaba.com:

Green cars a draw for ChinesePublished: 21 Apr 2010 08:02:01 PST
By Wang Xinyuan
About 60 percent of Chinese consumers would consider buying plug-in hybrids or pure electric vehicles in China, according to an Ernst & Young report released Wednesday, a percentage higher than in any other country surveyed.
The finding suggests huge market potential in China for green car manufacturers.
The company conducted a survey of 1,000 Chinese respondents who currently own a vehicle or plan to purchase one within three years.
Chinese consumer's interest in electric cars was the highest, followed by buyers in Italy, France, Germany, the UK, the US, and Japan.
Fuel savings, environmental impact, government incentives and safety favorably influenced Chinese consumers' willingness to buy a plug-in hybrid or pure electric car, according to the report.
The environmental benefit of green cars was cited as the top reason to purchase them by 82 percent of the Chinese respondents, the highest percentage among all countries surveyed.
Government incentives were the top motivator for 66 percent of German and 61 percent of Italian respondents, compared with 60 percent of the Chinese survey takers.
Battery driving range, access to charging stations, reliability and safety were cited as obstacles keeping Chinese consumers from buying green cars.
Roughly 82 percent of Chinese respondents considered a range per charge of less than 200 kilometers acceptable, and 79 percent believed electric cars will outnumber gasoline-powered cars within 20 years.
"We saw a real appetite in the market for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles as a new means of transport in China and globally," said Mike Hanley, Ernst & Young's global automotive leader.
"The popularity of new powertrain technology will only increase and the market leaders will be those companies that have their fingers on the pulse of the consumer trends and behavior," he said.
Many car producers are already eyeing the alternative fuel vehicle market, including Chinese brands such as BYD, Geely, and Chery. Chery has launched an electric car already and Geely will launch one as well, the Beijing Times reported April 7 citing Li Shufu, the chairman of Geely.

Nissan Motor, Daimler and local brand BYD are expected to show electric cars at the upcoming 2010 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which opens tomorrow, Century Weekly reported Sunday.
Peugeot and Audi will also show hybrid and electric cars at the exhibition, according to the China Auto Show website.
Last January, the Ministry of Finance announced tentative measures to subsidize energy-efficient and alternative energy cars used in applications such as public transportation and taxi service.
Subsidies on individual purchases of hybrid and electric cars are expected to come out later in pilot cities.
State Grid Corporation, the country's largest operator of power grids, also announced early this year that it plans to build 75 charging stations for electric vehicles nationwide in 2010.

Powered by Lithium: Electrifying performance - AMG SLS eDrive TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, WLC.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, DAI, BYDDY, NSANY, F, GM,

Iconic brands will deliver the message - Electric Cars are not Toys any more. Fisker Karma and AMG SLS eDrive will be among trendsetters and mass market in EV will follow. It will be Cool to be Green. Lithium Demand will be next to become a serious game in town.

NorthShoreTimes:

Electrifying performance - AMG SLS eDrive

Video: road test

"WITH the paint hardly dry on its new “Gullwing” coupe, Benz’s high-performance arm AMG has revealed details of an electric car that can match the SLS pound for pound.
What is even more exciting is that this electric performance model will be ready for sale within three years.
Based on the aforementioned SLS coupe, the electric version of the car, the SLS eDrive features not one but four electric motors - one for each wheel.
Speaking in Germany recently, AMG’s head of vehicle development Tobias Moeres described the electric SLS as a virtual road-going “laboratory”.
Rated at 100kW apiece, the four electric motors deliver drive to all four wheels, making it all-wheel-drive with the added benefits this brings in the form of improved traction and handling.
The combined torque output is 880Nm and the instant torque that characterises electric motors can catapult the car from standstill to 100km/h in less than four seconds.
Top speed however is limited at this stage to about 190km/h.
Although it’s significantly heavier, Moeres said the electric version of the car “covers its weight very easily”.
The car has a range of about 180km and can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 20 to 30 minutes.
AMG has been testing the SLS eDrive on tracks in southern Europe.
A standard SLS weighs 1650kg while the electric one tips the scales at 2100kg.
Most of this extra weight can be attributed to the lithium-ion batteries. The batteries are distributed front and back in the engine bay and area normally occupied by the fuel tank as well as along the centre transmission tunnel, giving the car a low centre of gravity.
The standard double-wishbone suspension has been replaced in front by a new pushrod setup with coil-over dampers that are mounted horizontally, freeing up space around the front axle.
The car is said to have excellent handling characteristics, helped by the ability to alter the amount of power delivered to individual wheels.
But what is performance without the roar of a V8 or the satisfaction derived from changing gears.
It’s a question that keeps cropping up in any discussion about electric performance models.
AMG’s engine, powertrain and electronics boss Friezrich Eichler has assigned a team of eight engineers to deal with these and other issues.
Eichler is not a fan of artificially giving the car an engine note, much like changing the ring tone on your mobile phone.
For one thing he confirmed the exhaust tailpipes have been removed from the electric version.
“If we do it our SLS will have a natural electric sound,” he said.
Engineers are exploring the possibility of amplifying or altering the physical design of the electric motors to generate their own engine note - to give the car a unique, low-pitched turbine sound.
They have also been experimenting with giving the car a gear change, instead of the one forward gear that electric cars normally have - much like the effect you get with a stepped, continuously variable-style transmission.
The result is apparently very effective.
With blokes like these on the job the future is looking electrifying."

TNR Gold Subsidiary Serves Notice of Back In Into Los Azules to Minera Andes and Secures Standby Credit Facility TNR.v, CZX.v, MAI.to, ABX, NG.to, FCX

"If it was a joke - it can become the bad one. As we understood from Minera Andes NR, which came out first on 1st of April: TNR Gold approached Minera Andes in negotiations in order to exercise its back-in right in Los Azules project. Rob McEwen CEO of Minera Andes decided to reject TNR Gold's claim of back-in right and sided with Xstrata, his response to TNR Gold discussion was a writ against TNR Gold filed to court on Fools' Day. We are not talking about manners here, but move is a very symbolic: he has welcomed before the lawsuit from his another partner, which he calls "partner from hell" and now attempts to block TNR Gold back-in right even before the deadline in agreement with Xstrata which is on 23rd of April according to Minera Andes NR. Our take from here is that maybe TNR Gold was able to finance its backing in and produced a proposition strong enough for Minera Andes to rush to court on such an unusual day. Looks like junior has received another chance to challenge the legal situation with an early back-in attempt, way before the major legal battle with Xstrata scheduled this Fall. The very important issue for development of Los Azules - ownership for Escorpio IV stays with TNR Gold until court decision in the Fall. Escorpio IV will accommodate part of the mining facilities according to Minera Andes Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Los Azules. We have been expecting that Rob McEwen will be more flexible in apparent discussions with TNR Gold and can secure 100% property including Escorpio IV in a deal with TNR Gold, now this question will be in the legal space. We think that we do understand his motivation: it is very difficult to announce that Los Azules does not belong to him 100% until the court decision in TNR Gold case with Xstrata after so many NRs stating just that. Legally Minera Andes has disclosed lawsuit between TNR Gold and Xstrata in its filings, but for some of the Minera Andes shareholders relying on company's presentations and NR's this news, that ownership of Los Azules is challenged by TNR Gold in lawsuit pending resolution was out of the blue."

Background on Los Azules, TNR Gold claims, Minera Andes and Xstrata.

TNR Gold has announced today a very important milestone in the development of the company: management and, what is very important, investors behind this financing are not discouraged by any legal rhetoric from Xstrata and Minera Andes and methodically advancing their legal case in Los Azules back-in right case.

Company reports that as part of its legal strategy TNR Gold secured the credit facility and have notified Minera Andes about an early back-in right into the Los Azules project.

It looks like money will be used only in case of successful litigation progress and this bridge loan allows company to finance the back-in right without dilution of TNR Gold and International Lithium Corp. at these price levels, which do not reflect the possible success in litigation.

You can review Los Azules project details in Minera Andes presentation.

Recent news on developments at Los Azules can be found here and for further reference we will address you to the latest TNR Gold presentation.

Every legal case brings uncertainty and you should address it in a legal statement below.



TNR Gold Subsidiary Serves Notice of Back In Into Los Azules to Minera Andes and Secures Standby Credit Facility

04/23/2010 [ACCESSWIRE]
Vancouver, B.C.: Compañía Minera Solitario Argentina S.A.(“Solitario”), a wholly owned subsidiary of TNR Gold Corp. ("TNR"), has served notice to Minera Andes Inc. exercising its back-in right for 25% of certain of the properties (the “Properties”) constituting the Los Azules project in Argentina (the “Los Azules Project”). TNR also entered into a standby credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of CAD$5 million (the “Facility”) for a term of one-year. The proceeds from the Facility have been placed in a trust account to be released on closing of the exercise of the back-in right.
TNR has issued 2,272,727 common shares to the lender as partial consideration for the Facility and has agreed to issue another CAD$500,000 of common shares with a deemed price equal to the 10-day volume weighted average trading price as of the day prior to the court’s decision in certain circumstances where TNR is successful in its litigation with respect to the back-in right. In addition, TNR has paid a corporate finance fee of CAD$305,000.
The right of TNR and Solitario to exercise the back-in right for the Los Azules Project is subject to a legal action commenced by Minera Andes Inc., Minera Andes S.A., Los Azules Mining Inc. and Andes Corporacion Minera S.A. (the “MAI Group”) against TNR and Solitaro in which the MAI Group is disputing Solitario’s ability to waive the production of a feasibility study and issue a back-in notice at this time. The action seeks declaratory relief that any back-in notice is invalid, void or of no force and effect, and advances a claim for costs. TNR is also in a legal dispute with MIM Argentina Exploraciones S.A. ("MIM") a subsidiary of Xstrata PLC, over the language of the back-in clause of the Exploration and Option Agreement entered into between Solitario and MIM. In the action, TNR is also seeking confirmation of its ownership in the Escorpio IV property, which is located adjacent to the Los Azules Project and a declaration that the Escorpio IV property is excluded from the Exploration and Option Agreement. A court date has been set for the fall of 2010.
ABOUT TNR GOLD
TNR and International Lithium Corp (“ILC”) are diversified metals exploration companies focused on exploring existing properties and identifying new prospective projects globally. TNR has a portfolio of 18 active projects, of which 9 will be included in the proposed spin-off of International Lithium Corp. For further details of the spin-off please refer to TNR's April 12, 2010 news release or visit http://www.internationallithium.com

The recent acquisition of lithium, other rare metals and rare-earth elements projects in Argentina, Canada, USA and Ireland confirms the companies’ commitments to generating projects, diversifying its markets, and building shareholder value.

On behalf of the board,

Gary Schellenberg
President

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this discussion, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that TNR expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include metal prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. In particular, there are no assurances that TNR will be successful in the current litigation with respect to the Los Azules Project and its back-in right and there are no assurances that TNR will be able to refinance the Facility in the event that the closing with respect to the Properties is delayed beyond the term of the Facility. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. This news release and the information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States and securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or exemption from registration.

We have a position in this company, please, do not consider anything as an investment advise, as usual, on this blog.

Lithium market: $25k Chinese electric car for 2011 in Australia: TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, GOOG, AAPL, RIMM, BYDDY

Price competition will drive Electric Cars mass market. Chinese companies will have yet to prove that they can claim auto brand properties, but cost wise they are out of competition. Once thousands of engineers working in China on lithium batteries, safety and design of Electric Cars convert quantity into quality this market will take off in iPod fashion.

"CNBC: There is an amazing race going on right now around the world to find the fuel of the future. More than three decades after the oil shocks shook America, the United States and the rest of the industrialized world is still addicted to oil. Now, for the first time in a generation, plans to break the black gold stranglehold are closer than ever to becoming a reality. "Beyond the Barrel: The Race to Fuel the Future," anchored by CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla, showcases the bottled promises ready to be unleashed from the Middle East, South America, Asia and here at home."

BrisbaneTimes:

"$25k Chinese electric car for 2011
TOBY HAGON

Fresh from the arrival of two new Chinese brands, vehicle importer Ateco says it still plans to have an electric car on sale here next year.
China is gearing up to produce the most affordable electric car to go on sale in Australia - and it could be in dealerships as early as next year.
The governing director of Ateco Automotive, Australia's largest independent vehicle importer, says he plans to have an electric car on sale by 2011.
"We want to have an electric car in 2011," said Ateco's Neville Crichton. "We're very confident we will. We see there's a niche in the market."
Already Ateco is selling Great Wall vehicles in Australia and is just months away from beginning distribution of Chery cars, the fourth biggest automotive brand on sale in China.
Crichton won't say whether the electric car will come from one of the company's existing Chinese brands or whether he will begin importing a third brand from the country that is now buying more cars than any other.
"I'm not commenting," he said, when quizzed on what brand would supply the electric car. "There are several suppliers of electric cars."
He said it "maybe" could come from Chery or Great Wall, although the former seems the most likely.
Fast growing brand Chery - which only produced its first car in 1999 - is already well advanced in the development of an electric car and plans to have a hybrid on sale overseas by the end of this year.
However, Crichton did not rule out importing another brand, and that no matter which brand the electric car comes from it will be competitively priced among regular, petrol-engined cars.
"I think they've got to be ... probably in the mid-20s to do volume," he said. "Why would you pay 50 or 60 [thousand dollars]?"
He said if the EV could be sold for around $25,000 it could be a serious competitor against other electric vehicles.
Mitsubishi recently began selling its i-MiEV, the first mass produced electric car to go on sale in Australia. But with a price tag of $70,000 for what is similar to a $20,000 petrol-powered car the four-door Mitsubishi will only sell in very small numbers and predominantly to fleets and governments looking to sprout a green image.
Nissan has also committed to bringing an electric car to Australia by 2012, although the Leaf is tipped to cost upwards of $30,000.
Other brands such as Toyota and Holden are planning to sell plug-in hybrid vehicles, which run on electricity most of the time but have a regular engine as a back-up to extend the driving range."