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The world’s second-largest economy, China, has found a real sore point in the global auto industry, which has focused on vehicle electrification for decades. The graphite needed to
The ‘brave new world’, in which the electric vehicle is taking on an increasingly important role, shows another grin of reality, which is not much expected by enthusiasts of the fight against traditional combustion engines. Recently, China announced that it was actually introducing permits for the import of graphite and products made from it. First, graphite is needed for battery production. And second, about 90% of this substance is supplied to the world market by the Celestial Empire.
The fact is that graphite is produced using a technology that is not particularly environmentally friendly and rather energy intensive: by heating a mixture of sand and coke to temperatures of up to 2800°C. Or from gaseous hydrocarbons at 1400-1500°C and reduced pressure, followed by heating the resulting pyrocarbon to 2500-3000°C at a pressure increased to 50 MPa. For decades, developed countries preferred not to spoil things at home, sacrificing the “honorable mission” of graphite production in China.
And now it has been realized that this country has become a global monopolist in this field and supplies graphite in large quantities to the US, Japan, South Korea, India and other countries. Fortunately, Russia has its own graphite production. It is not comparable in size to the Chinese one, but it is sufficient for domestic consumption.
The Chinese claim that graphite exports will no longer be banned from December 1. For this you only need special permission from the authorities of the country. Characteristically, the PRC ‘took control’ of its gallium and germanium exports in much the same way slightly earlier, from August 2023.
These metals are needed in the production of semiconductors, without which modern microelectronics is unthinkable. According to various estimates, China is responsible for 60 to 85% of world production of germanium and about 98% of gallium. So far, nothing has been heard of a ban on the supply of these metals. But there is no doubt that the Chinese state has found a lever of monopoly influence over the entire global battery and microelectronics industry. Now no one can ignore this factor: the global auto industry is too deeply involved in the history of electric vehicles.
Yes, some people continue to flutter and act as if they have the situation under control. For example, about a month ago the European Commission decided to investigate the alleged dumping behavior of Chinese suppliers of electric vehicles to the Old World. The United States is blowing up and building about five electric vehicle battery factories at the same time.
But everyone understands: Europeans and Americans can compete with China in this area only with the help of administrative measures – duties, bans and other legal restrictions. And the PRC is slowly forging its own ‘weapons’ to face the looming cyclopean battle for car markets on the ‘electric’ battlefield.
In that sense, Russia does not need to put pressure on itself. Electric cars in their current form will not soon (or ever!) appeal to mass motorists. For once we will find ourselves in the position of the ‘wise monkey’ of the Chinese parable, who will watch the fight between tigers from the safety of a tree.
The ‘brave new world’, in which the electric vehicle is taking on an increasingly important role, shows another grin of reality, which is not much expected by enthusiasts of the fight against traditional combustion engines. Recently, China announced that it was actually introducing permits for the import of graphite and products made from it. First, graphite is needed for battery production. And second, about 90% of this substance is supplied to the world market by the Celestial Empire.
The fact is that graphite is produced using a technology that is not particularly environmentally friendly and rather energy intensive: by heating a mixture of sand and coke to temperatures of up to 2800°C. Or from gaseous hydrocarbons at 1400-1500°C and reduced pressure, followed by heating the resulting pyrocarbon to 2500-3000°C at a pressure increased to 50 MPa. For decades, developed countries preferred not to spoil things at home, sacrificing the “honorable mission” of graphite production in China.
And now it has been realized that this country has become a global monopolist in this field and supplies graphite in large quantities to the US, Japan, South Korea, India and other countries. Fortunately, Russia has its own graphite production. It is not comparable in size to the Chinese one, but it is sufficient for domestic consumption.
The Chinese claim that graphite exports will no longer be banned from December 1. For this you only need special permission from the authorities of the country. Characteristically, the PRC ‘took control’ of its gallium and germanium exports in much the same way slightly earlier, from August 2023.
These metals are needed in the production of semiconductors, without which modern microelectronics is unthinkable. According to various estimates, China is responsible for 60 to 85% of world production of germanium and about 98% of gallium. So far, nothing has been heard of a ban on the supply of these metals. But there is no doubt that the Chinese state has found a lever of monopoly influence over the entire global battery and microelectronics industry. Now no one can ignore this factor: the global auto industry is too deeply involved in the history of electric vehicles.
Yes, some people continue to flutter and act as if they have the situation under control. For example, about a month ago, the European Commission decided to investigate the alleged dumping behavior of Chinese suppliers of electric vehicles to the Old World. The United States is blowing up and building about five electric vehicle battery factories at the same time.
But everyone understands: Europeans and Americans can compete with China in this area only with the help of administrative measures – duties, bans and other legal restrictions. And the PRC is slowly forging its own ‘weapons’ to face the looming cyclopean battle for car markets on the ‘electric’ battlefield.
In that sense, Russia does not need to put pressure on itself. Electric cars in their current form will not soon (or ever!) appeal to mass motorists. For once we will find ourselves in the position of the ‘wise monkey’ of the Chinese parable, who will watch the fight between tigers from the safety of a tree.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
