Vianode, a Norwegian battery materials company, is now a supplier of graphite anodes to the American automaker General Motors (GM).
Anode graphite will be shipped from Vianode’s north American plant starting in 2027. The agreement covers both supply and developing a large-scale manufacturing capacity towards 2033, it said.
It said anode graphite is the largest component of a lithium-ion battery by weight, and a vital material for the transition to clean energy.
The agreement was made after a multi-year qualification process. This was to make sure its pilot plant in Norway met the performance and validation requirements for the US Inflation Reduction Act, it said.
The material will be used by Ultium Cells. This is the joint venture battery cell manufacturer between LG Energy and GM, it said.
There is a minimum off-take agreement for the anode graphite, but Vianode did not specify the amount.
Vianode has produced anode graphite since 2021 at its industrial pilot in Kristiansand, Norway. The Vianode Technology Centre for research and development opened in the same city in 2022. Production began at its first full scale plant in the second half of 2024.
The company claims its synthetic anode graphite is produced in a way that reduces carbon footprint by 90% over conventional production methods.
Vianode is preparing to develop a large-scale of production for anode graphite in North America and Europe. It aims to supply materials for three million EVs a year by 2030.
Vianode is owned by Hydro, an energy company, and Altor, a financial company.
Dr. Stefan Bergold, CCO of Vianode, said: “We look forward to collaborating with GM to further develop high-performance products that enable EVs with faster charging, longer range and extended lifespan.”