SAN DIEGO, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/
Battery materials pioneer Wildcat Discovery Technologies today announced it produced one metric ton of high-quality lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials, enabling customer testing and advancing the company’s strategy for U.S.-based manufacturing.
The 1MT batch demonstrates Wildcat’s ability to support large-scale and repeatable production of high-quality cathode active material (CAM). In less than 24 months, the company created its superior LFP recipe in the lab, scaled up the synthesis, and completed the pilot-scale batch. Product testing is now underway with several battery cell makers, commercial truck and automotive manufacturers, and grid storage providers.
“Customers’ feedback on our LFP samples has been overwhelmingly positive, and they also appreciate Wildcat’s unique expertise in optimizing battery integration,” said Wildcat President and CEO Mark Gresser. “We are pleased customers’ offtake agreements already represent enough volume to fill our 15,000-ton manufacturing capacity in the first year.”
Producing material on the tonnage scale represents an important milestone in Wildcat’s manufacturing readiness. Over the past year, Wildcat has strengthened it’s manufacturing capability through addition of experienced leaders and industry-renowned consultants, partnerships with engineering firms, and the launch of a Manufacturing Advisory Board.
Wildcat has been developing battery materials since 2006, and it plans to build a plant in the United States to manufacture LFP in late 2026, lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) in 2027, and disordered rock salt (DRX) in 2028. The plant, opening in 2026 with a 15,000-ton capacity, is set to double to 30,000 tons in 2028.
“Customers in North America seek accessible, long-term alternatives to China-based CAM production, and Wildcat’s strategy is to provide the high-quality, U.S.-based materials they need,” Gresser said.
About Wildcat Discovery Technologies
Wildcat’s mission is to produce high-performance U.S.-made cathodes to enable widespread adoption of clean energy. Founded in 2006, the company plans to manufacture a portfolio of nickel- and cobalt-free cathode materials at a plant it builds in the United States. Customers will have access to LFP, LMFP, and DRX materials produced at the plant. At the same time, Wildcat will continue to leverage its 15 years of materials development to help customers achieve the best integrated battery cell.
Wildcat’s vision is to be the first choice for battery materials development, integration, and supply. In addition to production, the company’s unique high throughput platform enables comprehensive materials experiments to be done 10 times faster than conventional methods. In collaboration with 80 companies, Wildcat has optimized solutions for battery components in 225 projects and 400,000 experiments spanning multiple industries. Wildcat was named one of the “50 Most Innovative Companies” by Technology Review magazine. For additional information, follow us on LinkedIn.
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