Pure Lithium is buying all of the belongings, together with mental property, of Dimien, a vanadium cathode supplies innovator in Buffalo, US.
This represents a big development in Pure Lithium’s efforts to completely commercialise its lithium metal-vanadium (LVO) battery, which may doubtlessly scale back the US’ reliance on China for present battery supplies.
Final month, the US Authorities proposed a ban on Chinese language software program in automobiles and, earlier this 12 months, raised tariffs on Chinese language EVs. But the US stays “dangerously dependent” on China for its EV batteries.
“Related automobiles and the know-how they use deliver new vulnerabilities and threats, particularly within the case of automobiles or elements developed within the PRC [People’s Republic of China] and different international locations of concern,” Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s Nationwide Safety Adviser, advised reporters on 20 September.
This proposal goals to cease Chinese language intelligence businesses from monitoring Individuals’ actions or utilizing car electronics to realize entry to the US electrical grid or different important infrastructure.
Pure Lithium is growing a next-generation battery that’s safer and more cost effective, can retailer extra power and has an extended lifespan in contrast with immediately’s lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery.
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Pure Lithium Founder and CEO Emilie Bodoin mentioned: “Now we have a lithium steel electrode manufacturing know-how that dramatically reduces prices… Eliminating graphite, nickel and cobalt is disruptive for the trade and can guarantee US provide chain safety, ending dependence on China.”
Based on the corporate, the battery may be ethically sourced and manufactured fully utilizing supplies present in North America, thereby eradicating China from the provision chain. China at the moment dominates the EV battery market and processing of most battery supplies, holding an nearly 60% monopoly on lithium refining and processing, in keeping with Worldwide Power Company (IEA) figures.
Pure Lithium’s LVO battery additionally has no cobalt, nickel or manganese, lowering the US’ dependence on different international locations with poor environmental or labour data.
Pure Lithium will pair its lithium-metal anode with Dimien’s vanadium cathode, which makes use of zeta vandanium (ZVO). ZVO is a low-cost cathode materials with excessive power density and improved security in contrast with immediately’s NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) and NCA (nickel-manganese-aluminium) cathodes utilized in Li-ion batteries.
“Dr Brian Schultz, [founder and CEO of Dimien] and his staff have labored diligently for years to develop a vanadium cathode. They’ve taken ZVO from a college science undertaking to commercially related prototypes, which cycle superbly towards our lithium steel,” Bodoin mentioned.
Additionally, Pure Lithium’s new strategy reduces lithium steel manufacturing prices by 90% and will result in lithium steel batteries costing lower than $50 per kilowatt-hour for the primary time. This know-how may doubtlessly exchange the dominant Li-ion batteries within the EV market.
Bodoin added: “It’s well-known by battery manufacturing incumbents that vanadium just isn’t technically viable to be used in lithium-ion batteries, which utilise a graphite anode and a lithiated transition steel oxide cathode. Mockingly… the identical causes that vanadium just isn’t viable for lithium-ion know-how make it the right pairing for Pure Lithium’s next-generation lithium steel batteries, presenting an unprecedented business alternative for Pure Lithium.”