UK battery materials company Echion Technologies and niobium products and technology firm CBMM of Brazil said they formed a multi-year manufacturing partnership.
That involves construction of a 2,000 tonne per year facility in Araxá, Brazil. It will supply anode grade niobium oxides at scale, the companies said in a statement.
It will be applied in Echion’s XNO battery anode material.
The facility is due to open in early 2024 and will have the capacity to supply material equivalent to 1GWh of battery cell production. They claim it positions Echion as the “first in the market” to guarantee the commercial supply of niobium-based battery anode oxides.
They said XNO enables lithium-ion batteries to safely charge in less than 10 minutes, maintain high energy densities (also at low temperatures), and deliver high power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles.
Applications include battery electric and hybrid trains, mining haul trucks, high-demand buses and delivery vehicles, motorsport and space.
Echion said its XNO materials are based on proprietary mixed niobium oxide compositions and microparticle designs.
The duo said CBMM will invest $80 million in expanding its niobium oxides production line, including this new facility.
The investment will allow total production of 3,000 tonnes of battery grade niobium oxides in 2024 for lithium-ion battery applications. CBMM plans to reach 40,000 tonnes of niobium oxide capacity in 2030.
Photo: Members of CBMM and Echion Technologies senior management teams
