Wildcat Discovery Technologies is building a US-based plant to produce a portfolio of safe, sustainable, and abundant cathode materials.
Since 2006, Wildcat has focused on battery material research and engineering. Wildcat expects its plant will be operational to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in late 2026, lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) in 2027, and disordered rock salt (DRX) in 2028.
Finalist site negotiations are underway for the plant, which will have an initial capacity of 15,000 metric tons and an expansion to 30,000 metric tons.
Wildcat is already producing LFP samples for customers and is partnering with a commercial truck manufacturer to develop a differentiated LMFP. Additionally, the company is utilizing its partnership with BMW to advance the development of DRX. Beyond the superior safety profile of DRX, Wildcat’s testing indicates the energy density of DRX cathodes is 10-20% higher than the best nickel-based cathodes.
“After 15 years of battery materials research, our new purpose is to produce high-performance American-made cathodes to enable widespread adoption of clean energy,” said Mark Gresser, Wildcat president and CEO. “This is a breakthrough opportunity for us to capitalize on the growing need for American-made cathodes for electric vehicles, grid storage, and other purposes.”
Demand is increasing significantly for nickel-free cathode materials that are produced in North America. The cathode accounts for about 50% of the cost of a battery cell, but more than 95% of the global LFP supply today is from China.
Wildcat uses a high throughput platform to conduct experiments 10 times faster than conventional methods, enabling systematic scale-up, cell optimization, and benchmarking of premium materials to pair the cathode with the right anode and electrolyte combinations.
“Battery cells are complex systems, and Wildcat recognizes the best cathode in the world doesn’t guarantee a successful battery,” added Gresser. “That’s why we partner with customers to help align and integrate all elements of the full battery cell for optimal performance and maximum value.”
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