SK On & US Graphite Processor Urbix to Jointly Develop Anode Materials for EV Batteries

Global EV battery developer and manufacturer, SK On (SKO), is teaming up with Urbix Inc., the US-based environmentally responsible graphite processor, to jointly develop anode materials for current and next-generation EV batteries. The industrialised anode materials will be incorporated into SKO’s advanced lithium-ion batteries used in its US gigafactories.

For Urbix, the agreement accelerates its plans to establish a commercial US anode production facility that will produce 28,500 tons of anode products per annum by 2025. This is enough to power 350,000 high-performance EVs produced in the US.

For SKO, this agreement reinforces a local supply chain for battery anode materials in the US.

In the US, SKO has two battery manufacturing plants in Commerce, Georgia, with the second plant scheduled to be operational in 2023.

BlueOval SK, a joint venture between SKO and Ford Motor Company, is building three battery manufacturing plants – one in Tennessee and two others in Kentucky.

The three plants are expected to commence operation from 2025.

Urbix approach to graphite processing eliminates the use of hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid, and records yields of over 70% - more than twice that of the industry standard.

Heeyoung Sun, SK On Vice President in charge of advanced research, says: “This agreement is meaningful in increasing the possibility of securing eco-friendly and high performance anode active materials for use in SK On’s U.S. plants,” he said. “SK On will continue to work to develop anode materials that can maximize battery performance.”

Nico Cuevas, CEO Urbix Inc, adds: “Working with such a renowned battery manufacturer means that we can accelerate our production efforts, and more effectively address the supply of graphite. By utilizing Urbix’s innovative technologies, we can shift more of the refinement and production of battery-grade graphite to the US, a mission we remain committed to,” Nico added.

Headquartered in Seoul, SKO is a global Tier 1 cell-maker, with major battery plants operating and under construction across Asia, the US and Europe.

The company was established in October 2021 after splitting off from SK Innovation, South Korea’s largest energy company.