Ultion Technologies has launched commercial-scale production and validation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells manufactured entirely from North American materials. Ultion says these cells meet or exceed the performance of leading imported alternatives, especially at high discharge rates.
The project involved a supply chain partnership with First Phosphate, which provided high-purity phosphate and iron for cathode manufacturing. Ultion designed, assembled and tested the cells at its Nevada facility.
The current LFP battery market is dominated by China, with over 90 percent of global production.
The battery cells are produced in a 18650 cylindrical format. Independent tests reported a stable capacity of 1.6 amp-hours per cell, a projected cycle life of 2,000 cycles with 80 percent capacity retention, minimal cell-to-cell variation and strong stability at a 5C discharge rate. The company says this high-rate capability is targeted for applications that demand rapid power delivery, such as grid storage, data centers and defense systems.
Torus, a Utah-based manufacturer of hybrid flywheel and battery storage systems, has invested in Ultion and has committed to buying the North American cells for its utility, data center and commercial projects.
“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.”
Source: Ultion Technologies
