A few years ago, ASX lithium shares were all the rage.
Take the Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) – currently the ASX's biggest lithium company. Today, Pilbara shares will cost you just 38 cents each (at the time of writing), but back in January 2018, the same shares would have set you back $1.20.
Let's also look at Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY). Unfortunately for anyone who bought Galaxy shares in that same January for $4.24, the price you'd be looking at selling today (if one was so inclined) would be $1.24.
It's an interesting industry to look at. The trends that were driving the 'lithium craze' two years ago haven't gone away and are indeed accelerating. Most pundits are expecting a massive ramp-up in the electrification of the transport grid in the coming decade.
In addition, lithium-ion batteries and energy storage are often touted as potentially playing a significant role in the electricity market of tomorrow by reducing the need for base-load coal-fired power plants.
But you wouldn't think that from looking at the Pilbara and Galaxy share prices.
What's next for lithium?
But perhaps there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
According to reporting in the Australian Financial Review (AFR), the American electric vehicle giant Tesla Inc. has just negotiated a long-term supply contract with British miner Glencore for the supply of cobalt to Tesla's new 'gigafactory' in Shanghai, China.
Along with lithium, cobalt is a rare metal essential to the operation of modern lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
Tesla shares have rocketed recently as the new factory opened and concerns about the company's viability have faded.
As demand for both lithium and cobalt is likely to accelerate in tandem with growing viability and production of electric vehicles, it makes sense that Tesla is locking in supply contracts.
Australia is home to some of the largest deposits of lithium in the world so, in my opinion, it's entirely possible that Tesla will also be looking to negotiate supply contracts with lithium miners like Galaxy and Pilbara, perhaps even in the near future.
Foolish Takeaway
Such a deal would potentially give Pilbara and Galaxy some long-term certainty, which I'm sure their weary investors would crave. It might be worth considering this possibility as Pilbara and Galaxy shares are trading at multi-year lows. The crazy-brave investors out there might see this as a 'beat-the-crowd' opportunity.
