What is lithium? It is a soft, silver-white metal that is a good conductor of both heat and electricity. Because of these properties, lithium is used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium batteries generate 3 volts of electricity, compared to 1.5 volts for lead/acid or zinc cells.

Lithium is used primarily in the manufacture of car batteries for hybrid cars. These cars are becoming more popular, with the major domestic and foreign car makers using lithium batteries. Hence, lithium has become a highly sought-after commodity.

Late Wednesday, the EnerDel unit of Ener1 Inc. (NASDAQ: HEV) scored a grant from the Obama administration to make battery parts. The company's $118.5-million handout was part of a $2.4-billion grant package doled out to automakers and related firms by the federal government in order to fund the domestic development of next-generation car batteries.

Indiana-based Ener1 says that the Obama grant, along with $480 million in Department of Energy loans it's applied for, should translate to rapid growth in its staff. The company has 150 employees currently, but said that number could surge to 3,000 workers as soon as 2015.