The GM-Backed Company Ridding EV Batteries of Harmful 'Forever Chemicals' - Nanoramic Laboratories' CEO Eric Kish

Nanoramic Laboratories was spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) back in 2009. Its Neocarbonix at the Core technology creates electrodes that provide reduced cost and offer greater power, energy density, and cycle life performance compared to traditional lithium-ion battery designs. 

As a result of a happy accident, its technology is also PFAS-free. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that are used in several EV battery materials. These so-called 'forever chemicals' can accumulate in human and animal tissues, leading to potential health risks, and are exceptionally difficult to break down.

"All of a sudden and without really intending to do that, we became a PFAS-free technology, which is the alternative to what the industry is using today," Nanoramic CEO, Eric Kish, tells Auto Futures.

Neocarbonix replaces conventional binder systems in batteries with a 3D nanocarbon mesh. This eliminates PFAS from the battery manufacturing process.

"Our biggest competitive advantage is the fact that this technology can can be used tomorrow in existing factories, meaning we use exactly the same equipment that a factory has today. So there are no massive capital expenditure required to change from PFAS to non- PFAS." 

GM Ventures, the venture capital arm of General Motors, has made a strategic investment in Nanoramic.

"Alongside the investment we signed a strategic partnership agreement where we are designing now batteries for all their core categories, starting with the middle (size) class, and we expect to have a GM battery in their cars by 2025. That's what the investment is for, to fund us and our equipment and people to be able to complete this strategic partnership agreement."

“Our integrated technology strategy aims to combine Nanoramic’s breakthrough technology with GM’s extensive network of resources to build more efficient EV batteries,” adds Kent Helfrich, president, GM Ventures, in a press release. “This collaboration has the potential to improve both cost and sustainability in battery manufacturing for our Ultium EV Platform.”

The Power of Partnerships

Nanoramic promotes its technology via a number of collaborations. For the last two years it has been working with with German startup E-Lyte to develop electrolytes that work with its electrodes, and are PFAS-free.

Together, the two companies are advancing an answer to supply chain issues that may be caused by a possible ban on PFAS.

“As proposed PFAS restrictions loom, we recognise the paramount importance of continuing to develop PFAS-free battery technology to enable accelerated growth of the EV industry," says Kish. 

In a press release, Dr. Ralf Wagner, CEO of E-Lyte, adds: “Enabling electrification in all areas of life in a sustainable way is the E-Lyte vision. However, the battery is only sustainable if not only its ultimate application, but also its manufacturing processes and the necessary components, are sustainable. With Nanoramic, we are bringing new cell chemistries and unbelievable high energy densities at cell level to a commercial level!”

RecycLiCo Battery Materials is a battery recycling and upcycling company based in Vancouver, Canada. The aim of its collaboration with Nanoramic is to utilise the companies' unique materials and technologies to establish an efficient, sustainable battery supply chain.

"Getting rid of PFAS is extremely expensive and difficult. You need to burn the stuff or use toxic solvents. What we want to demonstrate is that we can make electrodes that have zero impact on the environment through recycling and that's what we're doing with RecycLiCo," explains Kish.

RecycLiCo's CEO, Zarko Meseldzija, states: "This collaboration places RecycLiCo at the forefront of battery recycling technology by working with next-generation cathode materials to demonstrate a closed-loop, sustainable process. We are delighted to work alongside Nanoramic, a company whose commitment to sustainability reflects our own. With our combined expertise, we're confident we can make a substantial contribution towards minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices in the industry."

The Two Eras of Batteries

Finally we asked Kish for his thoughts on the future of EV batteries.

"China makes now 80% of world batteries and North America and Europe are kind of freaking out. Governments are throwing literally tens of billions of dollars in grants and subsidies to make sure that they don't lose this race, because it's a very dangerous race to lose. Imagine Germany without the car industry," he says.

"For the next seven years, there is no really an option other than conventional battery technology. All the Gigafactories that are being built, or almost all, are buying equipment and using this conventional technology to make batteries."

"Then there is the promise of a battery called a solid-state battery. A lot of startups are trying to get into this but there is no demonstrated solid state battery yet that is mature enough to be in volume production and actually be put into a car. It's estimated they will need seven to 10 years to reach that level. And that will be a battery that will be much more energy dense and also safer," he adds.

"These are the two eras of batteries that we're looking at. Interestingly enough, what we do is valid for both eras. We are also important for solid-state batteries because, guess what, every battery needs a binder. We are the binding technology," concludes Kish.