“Our streets are more like those of Bombay or New Delhi than those of California: we don’t have high speeds, we have very slow, disorderly traffic.”
In between the waves of the pandemic, the blows kept coming. Social conflicts in Chile closed the port that Quantum used to receive components — then a global container shortage sent the cost of shipments soaring. One time, Soruco told Rest of World, they paid $19,000 for a container that would normally have cost them between $1,500 and $2,000. “In the last quarter of 2020, things started to get better,” he said. “But I would say that even now things aren’t normal. The consequences of a battered economy are still with us.”
“The factory’s capacity is 60 cars a month, working one shift, and if we drink a little coffee, we could work two.”
Durán ushered Rest of World over to the very first prototype Quantum made. Curvy, white, and purple, it looked like a deep-sea explorer. On the floor next to it, collecting dust, was the lithium battery ceremonially presented to Quantum by YLB, the state company responsible for extracting and industrializing Bolivia’s lithium reserves. In September 2021, YLB and Quantum signed an agreement to work together toward the goal of putting Bolivian batteries in Bolivian EVs. The battery’s plastic cover was transparent, and Durán pointed to the lithium cells inside.
Even if all goes as planned, industrial production is years away. But the small amount of lithium cells being produced by YLB’s pilot plant will soon be used by a new Quantum Motors subsidiary, Quantum Batteries, to make electric batteries for Quantum’s EVs. With an investment of $500,000 from Bolpegas, a company that provides services to the oil and gas industry, Quantum Batteries will make batteries for 50 EVs a month. They will be more expensive than those imported from China, but Márquez said he believes it will be worth it to simplify logistics and have technical support close at hand. It also goes nicely with their Made-in-Bolivia marketing — and will no doubt help keep the government happy.
“When we close that circle—then we will be able to talk about the industrialization of lithium.”
“They import the parts because they have lower tariffs, they put them together, and they do so for less than it costs to import a car.”
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