Construction begins on new EV electrolyte facility in New Orleans

UBE Corporation has begun construction on a new facility near New Orleans, Louisiana, that will produce dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), two essential components for high-performance lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs).

A ceremony was recently held to commemorate the facility’s construction, attended by industry leaders, government officials, and key stakeholders, marking a major step in strengthening the domestic supply chain for EV battery materials.

This facility is the first in the United States and is positioned to support the rapidly expanding EV market by providing critical electrolyte materials for lithium-ion batteries. The plant’s production of DMC and EMC will enhance supply chain resilience, and help meet the increasing demand for sustainable battery components.

HYCO1, a specialist in syngas production and carbon utilization technology, is partnering with UBE to supply key raw materials for the plant. After extensive evaluation, UBE selected HYCO1’s proprietary CUBE Technology, recognizing its efficiency in producing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂) with lower emissions and improved operational efficiency.

Integrating HYCO1’s syngas technology will allow UBE to incorporate CO₂ as a feedstock, further reducing the carbon footprint of battery electrolyte production.

Benefits of HYCO1’s technology:

• Operational flexibility – HYCO1’s Catalyst allows for using lower-cost CO₂ instead of natural gas, further increasing the sustainability and efficiency of CUBE syngas plants.
• Operational efficiency – HYCO1’s Catalyst reduces the energy required to produce CO and H₂ using lower steam requirements than traditional SMR catalysts as well as having superior heat and mass transfer efficiency.
• Operational reliability – HYCO1’s Catalyst is designed to mitigate traditional syngas catalyst failure points resulting in superior temperature, pressure and flow operating ranges.

As EV adoption accelerates, securing a stable and sustainable supply of battery materials is critical. This facility will play a pivotal role in supporting the transition to cleaner transportation by ensuring a domestic source of high-quality electrolytes for next-generation EV batteries.