Umicore advances High Lithium Manganese-rich CAM for EV battery
Umicore has announced the start of industrialization of its leading manganese-rich HLM (high lithium, manganese) cathode active materials (CAM) technology, and targets commercial production for use in electric vehicle batteries by 2026.
The Belgium-based company claims that this development introduces a distinctly competitive technology to other design-to-cost battery technologies for EVs and complements Umicore's broad portfolio of NMC (nickel, manganese, cobalt) battery materials for high performance, long-range EVs.
"Umicore reaffirms its frontrunner position in battery technology as our manganese-rich HLM technology moves closer to commercial production for future customers and provides an optimum alternative for the production of low-cost EV batteries", said Ralph Kiessling, Executive Vice President Energy and Surface Technologies at Umicore.
He further added, "We have entered into product development programs with car and cell manufacturers who chose to fast-track our proprietary high-capacity-low-cost and recyclable solution thanks to its proven and distinct performance".
HLM is gaining traction with car and battery cell manufacturers as a differentiating lower cost, high energy-density and sustainable battery technology. It offers a better total cost of ownership than LFP (lithium iron phosphate) with longer driving ranges, equivalent safety, much more reliable SOC (state of charge) monitoring and better recyclability, according to Umicore.
Further, the company also recycles these battery materials on an industrial scale, at industry-leading recovery rates and in an eco-efficient way. The mass production of HLM is expected at Umicore's battery materials plants in Korea and Poland, which today produce NMC-based cathode active materials, as well as at the planned facility in Canada.
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