Ultion Technologies has completed testing of lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells made entirely with North American materials.
Uliton, a Nevada-based company, performed cell design, assembly and testing, using high-purity phosphate and iron from Canada-based First Phosphate. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 to develop this North American supply chain.
The tested battery cells used a North American supply chain consisting of:
- Phosphate: High-purity phosphoric acid produced from igneous phosphate concentrate extracted from the First Phosphate Bégin-Lamarche property in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada.
- Iron: Iron powder produced using magnetite concentrate from the First Phosphate Bégin-Lamarche property in Quebec, Canada, and processed by GKN Hoeganaes of Tennessee, USA.
- Lithium: Lithium carbonate produced by Century Lithium Corp. from its operations in Nevada, USA.
- Graphite: Natural graphite-based active anode material produced by Nouveau Monde Graphite from its operations in Quebec, Canada.
“We can now point to a working battery cell and say every critical material came from North America,” said Johnnie Stoker, CEO of Ultion Technologies. “From mine to finished cell, the supply chain is real, and the performance matches or surpasses what global leaders are putting on the market.”
Ultion assembled and tested the cells in standard 18650 cylindrical format (about the size of a AA battery). Independent validation confirmed:
- Stable capacity of 1.6 amp-hours (Ah) across all tested cells
- Projected cycle life of at least 2,000 cycles with 80% capacity retained
- Reliable performance with minimal cell-to-cell variation
- Strong stability at a 5C discharge rate.
The ability to maintain performance at high discharge rates is particularly significant for applications such as grid storage, data centers and defense systems that require rapid power delivery.
Torus, a Utah-based manufacturer of hybrid flywheel and battery storage systems, has invested in Ultion and committed to purchasing the North American cells for its products serving utilities, data centers, and commercial and industrial facilities.
“Ultion’s progress gives us reliable supply, strong performance, and a clear competitive edge,” said Nate Walkingshaw, CEO of Torus. “What excites us most is the combination of performance and strategic value. We can now offer our utility and data center customers storage systems that are built in America and exceed the capabilities of imported alternatives.”
News item from Ultion
