6K and ONE collaborate to commercialise range-extended Gemini EV battery system
March 9, 2022
6K, headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, USA, and energy storage solutions developer Our Next Energy Inc (ONE), Novi, Michigan, have announced a partnership to enable ONE to scale and commercialise its Gemini cell chemistry. The organisation signed a letter of intent outlining how the companies will work together to significantly lower the cost and manufacturing capital required when producing this new battery material, which the company hopes will double the energy of the average electric car battery while taking up the same space.
“ONE is focused on developing the most cost effective and novel methods for producing its Gemini cathode material using 6K materials and processes,” stated Mujeeb Ijaz, founder and CEO of ONE. “Our focus is on building battery technology from a more sustainable, localised supply chain, thereby sharply reducing battery materials cost. Comparing conventional cathode material processing to 6K’s novel approach gives me confidence that we can have a low-cost cathode material for Gemini.”
ONE recently demonstrated a proof-of-concept battery that powered an electric vehicle for a reported 752 miles without recharging. The results were validated by a third party using a vehicle dynamometer where the test vehicle, a Tesla Model S retrofitted with an experimental battery, achieved 882 miles at 55 mph. A video detailing the test is available here.
“This agreement is significant on many fronts. For us at 6K, ONE’s use of our proprietary cathode material emphasises our vision and mission of manufacturing battery materials at lower cost in the United States, helping to significantly drive down the overall costs of EVs with sustainably produced materials,” added Sam Trinch, group president for 6K Energy.
Last spring, 6K announced a $30 million investment in the Battery Center of Excellence for its 6K Energy division. The new 3,066 m2 production facility will accommodate multiple pilot-scale UniMelt systems with a total annual capacity of 400-500 MWh. This facility is anticipated to be the largest plant in the United States capable of producing NMC811 cathode material. This will support full scale development of materials such as high energy density, single crystal cathode; low-cost, conflict free cathode; solid-state electrolyte materials; and materials for the anode. The expansion will create pilot production capabilities to fully support partner qualification, a move expected to enable domestic production.
