New 5 Minute-Charging EV Battery Good News for Lithium Cos.

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2. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Atlas Lithium Corp.
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Atlas Lithium Corp. (ATLX:NASDAQ) is among the mining companies that stand to benefit from the latest development in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, one that is said to charge in five minutes, the time it takes to refuel a gasoline-powered vehicle.

This new flash-charging battery, the brainchild of China's top EV manufacturer BYD Company Ltd. (BYDDF:OTCBB), reportedly can achieve a charging power of up to 1 megawatt and a peak charging speed of 2 kilometers per second (2 km/sec), reported The Straits Times on March 20. A five-minute charge provides 400 km (almost 250 miles) of range.

This redesigned lithium-iron-phosphate Blade battery of BYD uses a 10C charging multiplier, meaning it can be charged at 10 times the battery's capacity per hour, reported EV Magazine on March 20. Throughout charging, the battery maintains high charging power levels, up to 600 kilowatts at a 90% charge.

Earlier this week, BYD debuted and showcased its ultrafast charging battery in two of its EV models, the Han L and the Tang L sport utility vehicle, sales of which will start next month, Bloomberg reported on March 17.

For consumers, this ultrafast charging battery should make EVs more practical and long-distance driving more convenient, EV Magazine pointed out. These characteristics address an impediment to EV sales, prospective buyers' "range anxiety," the fear of running out of battery power before reaching a charging station or their destination. Also, the flash-charging battery should challenge industry competitors, potentially leading to accelerated advancements throughout the entire EV sector.

Greater demand for and sales of electric vehicles translates into an increased need for lithium, which is positive for the lithium supply chain, including near-term producers like Atlas. To this point, BYD previously opened a mining subsidiary in Brazil and acquired the mineral rights on two parcels of land in the country's Lithium Valley in Minas Gerais state, reported Reuters on Feb. 14. This property is about a half-days drive from BYD's factory complex in Bahia, for processing lithium and iron phosphate and for manufacturing hybrid and electric vehicles along with electric bus and truck chassis, according to the company. The property is adjacent to Atlas Lithium's Neves project.

Here's more about Atlas:

Pivotal Year for Lithium Co.

This U.S.-based mining company with the largest lithium exploration portfolio in Brazil, is advancing its 180-square-mile Neves project there.

"We continue to view 2025 as a pivotal year for ATLX as the company transitions from a lithium developer to producer," Jake Sekelsky, Alliance Global Partners analyst, wrote in a March 10 research report.

Alliance Global's Sekelsky has a Buy rating on Atlas and a target price implying 426% upside from its share price at the time of the report.

Last week, Atlas announced that its Dense Media Separation lithium processing facility, being shipped from South Africa, arrived at Brazil's Port of Santos, a major milestone for the company. The plant's initial capacity to produce battery-grade spodumene concentrate will be at 150,000 tons per annum (150 Ktpa), reported Sekelsky. Capacity could be expanded to 300 Ktpa with a minimal additional capex investment.

Currently, Atlas is working on a definitive feasibility study of Neves and finalizing the US$40 million ($40M) prepayment financing with offtake partners Chengxin and Yahua, two of the world's largest lithium hydroxide producers, Sekelsky noted. This financing should cover the remaining capex at Neves for plant assembly and prestripping activity, required to access mineralized material.

"Given the project's fully permitted status, we expect management to make a formal development decision around midyear once the definitive feasibility study is announced," Sekelsky wrote.

Sector Growth Predicted

The global lithium market is forecasted to nearly triple between 2024 and 2033, going from US$9.86 billion (US$9.86B) in value to US$28.45B, according to Precedence Research. This projected expansion reflects a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%. The primary growth driver is the rising demand for lithium batteries from various industries.

Other contributors, noted a February Research and Markets report, are the increasing adoption of EVs, a growing number of renewable energy projects and consumers' continuing shift toward more sustainable and environment-friendly products.

Artificial intelligence data centers, which use lithium-ion batteries for backup power and storage, will keep fueling lithium market growth, too, given their large and growing demand for power. Goldman Sachs Research estimated these facilities will need 50% more power by 2027 and up to 165% more by 2030.

"Industry analysts foresee a future increase in lithium demand, potentially leading to a market shift by the early 2030s," driven by infrastructure projects and the growth of green technology, noted a March 4 CarbonCredits.com article.

Whereas demand is expected to rise, though, industry projections show supply moving into a deficit in late 2026 or early 2027, wrote GLJ, a Canadian energy consulting group. Bank of America also stated it anticipates lithium will be in undersupply by 2027, and its current oversupply will peak this year, USA News Group reported.

Given this outlook in the metal's fundamentals, GLJ purported the price of lithium carbonate price is going to rise in stairstep fashion, between now and at least 2030, to US$17,000−30,000 per metric ton. (In comparison, the average spot price today is about US$9,090 per metric ton.)

The Catalysts: Steps to Production

Several key potential stock-moving events are on the horizon for Atlas Lithium, noted Sekelsky. Completion of the definitive feasibility study is expected midyear, and a development decision should follow soon after.

Assuming the company opts to proceed, development and commissioning likely would take place in H2/25 with subsequent first production in H1/26.

Compelling Return Potential

Alliance Global's Sekelsky has a Buy rating on Atlas and a target price implying 426% upside from its share price at the time of the report.

"Much of the heavy lifting is now in the rearview as Neves is fully permitted, and the processing facility capex has been spent prior to the plant's arrival in Brazil," Sekelsky added. "Given this, we believe ATLX has a clear path to development and commissioning of the Neves project." 

H.C. Wainwright & Co. Analyst Heiko Ihle, in his Jan. 28 research report, wrote that Atlas plans to capitalize on its "low-cost operations in Brazil to create significant longer-term profits while offering geopolitical diversity to major lithium companies."

Ihle's rating on Atlas is Buy, and his price target suggested a 233% return potential from the share price at the time of that report.

Ownership and Share Structure

About 33% of Atlas Lithium is owned by management and insiders. About 12% of the shareholders are institutional. Strategic partners hold another 12%. The rest, about 43%, is retail. 

Its market cap is approximately US$100 million. It trades in a 52-week range of US$4.87–US$20.00.