Volt Resources Ltd (ASX:VRC) is entering into a strategic collaboration with advanced alkaline battery producer Urban Electric Power (UEP) to develop new technologies aimed at improving alkaline battery performance and reducing costs.
Under a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) in preparation, UEP, Volt and its technology partner in the United States, American Energy Technologies Co (AETC), will collaborate on the development of new technologies using non-spherical purified graphite for conductivity enhancement and ultra-high-purity graphite-based coatings to improve alkaline battery performance.
Notably, these developments will also benefit the consumers of UEP’s alkaline battery technologies by offering a more attractive cost structure than the currently available industry solutions on the market.
“Accelerate commercialisation”
Volt managing director Trevor Matthews said: “We are excited about the opportunity to work with Urban Electric Power to develop commercially based technologies to improve alkaline battery performance and lower costs.
“Volt views the alkaline battery market as a tremendous opportunity to participate in a sector with annual sales of US$7.5 billion.
“This collaboration introduces Volt to the US battery market and the board expects the JDA will accelerate the commercialisation of Volt’s downstream value-added graphite products in various battery applications.”
Current developments
Volt is leveraging the ‘inverted’ flowsheet developed by AETC to produce not only spherical purified graphite for lithium-ion batteries but also non-spherical material that can be used in applications such as conductivity enhancement and other specialty uses.
The development of non-spherical graphite products for the alkaline battery market will improve the economics of Volt’s planned BAM facilities in the US and Europe leveraging the current flake graphite production capability from the Zavalievsky graphite business located in Europe combined with the Bunyu graphite project development in Tanzania.
Interestingly, the Alkaline battery market estimated annual sales of US$7.5 billion comprising 12 billion battery cells sold that require more than 14,000 tonnes of graphite.
Forward plan
Following the successful completion of the graphite technology programs for use in alkaline batteries, UEP and Volt plan to enter into an offtake agreement for the supply of ultra-high-purity graphite-based coatings and additives in addition to potential licensing benefits derived from the intellectual property developed.
Moving forward, the companies expect to finalise and execute the JDA in January 2022.
About Urban Electric
Urban Electric Power revolutionises the traditional alkaline battery (eg AA battery) by transforming it into a powerful rechargeable alkaline battery.
Interestingly, the battery utilises earth-abundant materials from existing supply chains mined within ally nations, ensuring safe supply.
UEP chief technology advisor Alex Couzis said: “Urban Electric Power is enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with Volt and its technology partner in the United States, American Energy Technologies Co.
“Volt is a very innovative company in the area of graphites and mixing and their open culture toward collaboration is inspiring.”