Backing batteries: ways to invest in lithium and copper

Batteries sit at the heart of the energy revolution. They are needed for the effective rollout of electric cars, for the reimagining of transport systems and to store renewable power, such as solar or wind. As the transition to low carbon fuels benefits from vast government stimulus packages, battery demand is soaring, creating opportunities to invest in lithium and copper - component metals - and battery manufacturers.

The electric vehicle revolution is happening but subsidies matter

While 2020 was a dismal year for carmakers, the electric vehicle market bucked this trend. The global stock of electric cars rose 43% with Europe showing the largest annual increase. The electric car market in Europe moved from a market share of 3.3% in 2019, to 10.2% in 2020. China, with its 4.5 million electric cars, has the largest fleet, with Europe a solid second on 3.2 million.

The importance of batteries in the adoption of electric cars

Better and more efficient battery production is the most important element in long-term adoption of electric vehicles. The battery forms a significant amount of the intellectual property within electric cars and it is only because surging production of lithium-ion batteries has driven down prices that electric vehicles are commercially viable today. Battery developments are also helping the range of electric cars and how long they take to charge.

Battery production is a priority for policymakers and car companies alike. The EU has sought to ramp up its production through a series of massive battery factories, known as gigafactories. As it stands, China is the biggest battery manufacturer in the world and Europe is determined that it shouldn’t depend on Chinese-made batteries for its cars. Tesla’s planned gigafactory in Berlin is slated to be the biggest in the world with as much as 250GWh annual capacity.

Battery raw materials can present investment opportunities

The manufacture of electric car batteries is dependent on a number of key metals. Lithium-ion batteries have, so far, proved the most effective on the market, though other technologies are being tried. Alongside mined lithium, Batteries also rely on cobalt, graphite, nickel, aluminium and manganese to function effectively. Copper is a major component in electric vehicles used in not just the battery, but also the motor, inverters, wiring and in charging stations. A pure electric vehicle can contain more than a mile of copper wiring.

Electric vehicle demand has pushed up the prices of these raw materials. Investing in lithium, for example, has become an expensive business, with the price by the end of May 2021 having nearly doubled since October 2020. That said, it remains 50% below its highs in 2017.

Investing in battery companies is an alternative option

Rather than trading raw materials, investors could look at a number of the battery manufacturing companies. These are mostly based in Asia and include Panasonic, LG Chem and BYD. Partnerships with the major car companies are commonplace. The majority of car manufacturing groups have committed to retiring the combustion engine over the next five years, so will need to find a reliable supply of batteries.

Collective fund investment offers broader access to battery technology

Another way to access lithium or copper investment opportunities is through the various ETFs that invest in lithium or copper. For those wishing to invest in lithium The Global Lithium & Battery Technology ETF has its highest weightings in Albemarle, Eve Energy and Ganfeng Lithium. It is heavily weighed to China and the US. The L&G Battery Value Chain fund has groups such as Galaxy Resources, Pilbara Minerals and Mineral Resources. Its highest weightings are in Japan, the US and Australasia.

There are also copper ETFs and exchange-traded commodities for those looking to invest in copper: WisdomTree Copper tracks the Bloomberg Copper Subindex, which should stick close to the copper price. The Global X Copper Miners ETF, in contrast, tracks the performance of copper mining companies.

For those who would rather someone else took the decisions on the right time to buy and sell individual commodities and companies, active commodities funds increasingly have weightings to metals involved in the energy transition. They will also be a key part of ‘energy transition’ funds.

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