General Motors and Energy Exploration Technologies Inc announced a strategic partnership to advance EnergyX’s lithium extraction and refinery technology as well as the fact that GM Ventures is leading a $50 million Series B investment round in EnergyX. The goal of the cooperation is to leverage EnergyX’s cutting-edge technique to maximise efficiency while enhancing sustainability for GM’s fast expanding EV production. Lithium is a key component of EV batteries and is only available in limited quantities in North America.
With the help of EnergyX’s direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology portfolio, lithium metal can be produced directly from brine and possibly in anode-ready form for electric vehicle batteries. This enables more cost-effective and sustainable lithium recovery and opens up a sizable lithium supply chain in North America that might not be commercially viable otherwise.
GM is making investments in all parts of the North American battery supply chain, including raw materials, processing, cell components, and full battery cell manufacture.
Three essential elements make up the lengthy partnership between these two American businesses:
• A programme to develop new technologies to assist the commercialization of EnergyX’s advanced DLE and refinery operations, which could supplement or replace current evaporation pond technologies.
• A deal allowing General Motors to exploit competitive lithium offtakes for its sole use in the construction of electric vehicles, including raw materials obtained from EnergyX-hired mining businesses in North and South America.
• Increasing supply chain prospects for GM by providing strategic funding for lithium production projects in North and South America.
EnergyX made history in 2022 when it was the first company to develop, construct, and launch an in-field pilot plant in the Lithium Triangle, which contains more than 65% of all known worldwide lithium deposits. In comparison to the existing industry standard of 30–40% using ponds, the company’s LiTASTM technology enhances lithium recovery rates to over 90% and reached 94% during their field experiments. EnergyX will scale those systems to more robust market demonstration facilities located at five regional test beds in North and South America after a successful five-month pilot programme demonstrating the efficacy of the LiTASTM lithium refinery process. This will be followed by full-scale commercialization.
EnergyX is one of the global leaders in DLE technology thanks to this new round of funding, which was provided by GM and other investors. It will also allow the company to expand its research and development efforts for pure lithium metal anodes and its solid-state lithium metal battery programme, SoLiSTM. EnergyX already employs more than 50 people and plans to raise that number to 100 in the upcoming months. EnergyX is currently building a 40,000 square foot research and production facility in Austin, Texas, to accommodate its expanding operation.
