This article only represents the author's own views.
New energy investment patterns look set to repeat themselves with the latest race to snap up assets related to the mining of lithium, a key element used to make electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
That’s our latest assessment following word that EV maker Nio Inc. (NIO.US; 9866.HK) has agreed to invest in an Argentine lithium mining project through a new tie-up with Australia’s Greenwing Resources Ltd. (GW1.AX). This move looks suspiciously similar to a similar race by solar panel makers to invest in polysilicon a decade ago when the solar industry began to take off and prices for their key raw material soared.