Volt Resources Ltd (ASX:VRC) is encouraged by the results of tests that demonstrate high-margin applications of its ultra-high purified graphite (UHPG), particularly in improving the performance of lead-acid batteries.
The graphite producer and battery anode material developer is conducting performance testing with direct oversight by lead-acid battery specialists, Apollo Energy Systems, Volt’s potential offtake partner.
Moving forward, the development of non-spherical graphite products for the lead-acid and alkaline battery markets will improve the economics of Volt’s planned Battery Anode Material facilities in the United States and Europe, including the ESD SuperSite/Gigafactory.
Investors have welcomed the news with shares trading as high as $0.021 intraday, up 16.7% from the previous close.
“Offtake discussions”
Volt managing director Trevor Matthews said: “We are very excited about the encouraging results obtained with our ultra-high purity graphite in lead-acid battery applications.
“The test-work with Apollo Energy Systems and AETC has supported Volt’s strategy of developing high-value products that will allow us to monetise the non-spherical by-product created during the production of lithium-ion battery anode material.
“We look forward to offtake discussions with Apollo and the continuation of the excellent working relationship we have with our technology partner, AETC.”
Test-work summary
Volt is evaluating the electrochemical performance of its UHPG for use in the expander of lead-acid batteries.
The evaluation is being undertaken by Apollo Energy Systems (AES), a potential Volt offtake partner, and Volt’s technology partner in the United States, American Energy Technologies Co (AETC).
Under the supervision of engineers and scientists of AES, AETC has installed a pilot assembly line for in-house manufacturing of fully-functional, unspillable, absorbent glass mat (AGM) prototype batteries rated for a variety of segments of the lead-acid battery market.
Subsequently, lead-acid batteries containing Volt’s graphite were tested side-by-side with the control formulation whose expander was based on the formulation of traditional carbon materials such as carbon black and ligna sulfonate.
Promisingly, cells containing the company’s graphite consistently delivered higher capacity than the control.