Epsilon Advanced Materials (EAM) has successfully completed the acquisition of a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) cathode active material technology centre in Moosburg, Germany, from Johnson Matthey. This strategic acquisition positions EAM as the first global company capable of providing both cathode and anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, reshaping the landscape of the electric vehicle (EV) battery market.
The acquisition marks a significant leap forward for EAM and reinforces its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to the rapidly evolving EV battery market. Vikram Handa, Managing Director of EAM, expressed enthusiasm about the strategic positioning of the Moosburg technology centre, stating, “This acquisition reaffirms our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to the evolving EV battery market. The advanced technology centre in Moosburg strategically positions us to lead the industry in cathode material manufacturing.”
EAM is now poised to make India the first country in Asia, outside of China, to manufacture LFP cathode materials. The company is scheduled to break ground on its facility in India in 2024, with plans to build a large-scale customer qualification plant by 2025, scaling up to 1,00,000 tons by 2030. This move is expected to reduce the battery market’s reliance on China, as currently, approximately 70% of cathode materials, and 100% of LFP cathode, for lithium-ion batteries are produced in China.
Sunit Kapur, CEO of EAM, emphasised the company’s readiness to deliver comprehensive solutions to customers, stating, “We are proud to announce that EAM is now ready to go to market with a proven high-performance cathode active material, marking a significant leap forward in our capabilities. Integrating the cathode expertise from the Moosburg technology centre with our anode business uniquely positions us to deliver comprehensive solutions to customers, delivering anode and cathode to empower them to optimise the performance of their batteries.”
The Moosburg facility greatly accelerates EAM’s technology development and scale-up timeframe. Equipped to produce LFP and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode in small laboratory-scale batches up to pilot-scale material, the facility features a versatile pilot customer qualification plant designed to validate new materials. Utilising a Hydrothermal process, the centre provides a cleaner metal processing solution, contributing to a more environmentally friendly battery-metals supply chain.
