climate change Archives

Published on October 27, 2022December 28, 2022

4 mins read

Opportunities in The Booming Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Market

With the current changes in the automotive market, the demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries has resulted in unprecedented growth. Recent projections indicate that the global EV battery market is expected to grow from $21.9 billion in 2020 to $154.9 billion in 2028.

According to a recent McKinsey & Co. report, by 2030, ninety percent of automotive demand will be for mobility applications, particularly in electric vehicles. As a result, the EV battery market offers numerous opportunities for investors to consider.

Several factors have contributed to the surge in demand for EV batteries. Increased advocacy for carbon footprint reduction is one factor contributing to soaring demand. With the global climate change crisis, there have been calls to reduce carbon footprints by embracing environmentally friendly energy, such as replacing fossil fuels with electricity.

Similarly, governments have been at the forefront of initiatives to support the transition to EVs by implementing incentives. President Biden, for example, recently announced a $2.8 billion grant to support EV battery manufacturing. This incentive is expected to boost EV battery production and demand.

The falling cost of lithium-ion batteries allows for the mass production of EV batteries at a lower cost. Similarly, automobile manufacturers’ competitive strategy for expanding their global footprint is critical.

To increase their global presence, most automotive brands have resorted to developing cutting-edge products. One of the products that have improved their value proposition is the EV battery.

The increase in EV battery demand opens up a window of opportunity for investors. The first opportunity is in the advancement of software and digitalization. An EV’s architecture technically includes the smart cockpit system, control system, and autonomous driving system. To function, this architecture is dependent on algorithms, chips, and software. As a result, investing in hardware and software development is a profitable venture.

The EV battery market has also shifted the automotive ecosystem. EV drivers need to charge or swap batteries as opposed to refueling. The new ecosystem ushers several opportunities, including battery recycling, EV charging piles, and battery swapping stations.

The maturation of autonomous driving is another opportunity presented by the growth of EV batteries. While electric vehicles have been a game changer in the automotive industry, this is only the beginning.

The ultimate goal will be to make driving autonomous via self-driving vehicles. Aside from improving traffic efficiency, self-driving vehicles will significantly reduce social costs such as time and labor.

Lastly, the energy storage sector is gaining importance with the shift to EV vehicles. The pressure to meet the energy demands has seen some battery companies offshoring. Investors can either partner with EV battery manufacturers to establish multinational battery companies or venture into mining minerals such as cobalt, nickel and the manufacturing of liquid electrolytes.

Finally, growth in the EV battery market is likely to spread to other areas and sectors. As a result, investors have a wide range of opportunities at their disposal.

Exploring such ventures provides a lucrative opportunity in an untapped market with excellent growth potential. It is also a long-term opportunity because the transition to EVs aligns with environmental goals.

Tony O. Lawson

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Published on September 19, 2022September 19, 2022

4 mins read

Climate Change and Its Effect on the Coffee Industry

With more than 2.25 billion cups consumed every day, coffee has gone beyond the position of merely a beverage and now plays a significant cultural role. Around 120 million people depend on coffee for their livelihoods worldwide.

Climate change, however, has just sparked a perfect storm that endangers the well-being of millions of coffee farmers and their families. Furthermore, according to scientists, there will be longer and more intense rainy and dry spells, which will make farming more difficult. The cost of buying and growing decent coffee will rise as temperatures rise and droughts get worse.

The pattern is obvious. According to scientists on climate change, the average global temperature will climb by 1.5 to 4.5 degrees celsius this century. And if we don’t take swift action, it might be too late. Read on to know how climate change is likely to affect the coffee industry in the years to come.

Impact of Climate Change on the Coffee Industry

1. Coffee’s Flavour Can be Affected by Water, Stress, Temperature, and Light Exposure

In order for coffee trees to develop and prosper as well as for their beans to have the flavors and aromas that many coffee lovers adore, an ideal mix of growing conditions is required. Researchers concluded that variables including altitude and light exposure had an impact on coffee quality in a 2021 study that looked at how shifting climates will adversely alter the coffee flavor.

2. Less Land to Grow Coffee by 2050

It is anticipated that coffee-growing regions will move out of the tropics. By 2050, the total area of land suitable for growing coffee is expected to shrink overall, according to a new study. The best regions for growing coffee are expected to shrink in size and suitability in four of the top five coffee-producing countries in the world, namely Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia.

3. New Regions Are Likely to Emerge

Some nations, namely those outside of the tropics, might experience an improvement in adaptability and new business potential with the plant.

Ethiopia, the plant’s native land, is the fifth largest producer, and it is anticipated that its suitability for growing coffee will mostly remain unchanged. According to studies, there will probably be an increase in the suitability of some countries—such as the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, and China—for coffee growing.

4. The Quality of Single-Origin Coffee Will Potentially Deteriorate

The quality of single-origin coffee coming from arabica beans, which are prized for their rich and evocative scents and flavors, relies largely on the particulars of their growing environment and a particular set of conditions. The regions that produce high-quality, single-origin coffees decline together with the general shrinkage of acceptable coffee-growing lands.

The Bottom Line

There are a number of other irreversible effects of climate change, and coffee’s future is still in the hands of a population that keeps spewing greenhouse gases into the skies. But other organizations have been researching hybrid coffee varietals in an effort to make coffee plants more resilient to harsh environmental conditions—while maintaining flavor and other desired traits.