Pure Lithium Corp. battery co opens new Chicago HQ, announces pilot production line

Pure Lithium Corp. announced October 22 it had opened its new headquarters in Chicago, Illinois’ Fulton Market district. According to a July announcement from the Illinois Governor’s office, the company’s relocation from Boston involved a $46 million company investment and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grants worth $8.5 million.

The new 21,000-square-foot site in Chicago’s Fulton Market district will also host a pilot production line for its novel anode production method, according to a company statement. The process involves electrodepositing lithium onto copper from lithium brine.

The company hopes to supplant widely commercialized lithium-ion batteries with lithium-metal batteries, which replace the older battery’s graphite anode and lithium nickel-magnanese-cobolt cathode with an anode of lithium and a vanadium oxide cathode. The latter ingredient will also make the new batteries more resistant to fire, the company says.

According to the company’s October 22 announcement, Pure Lithium plans to market the batteries it will make for the drone and defense, infrastructure, consumer electronics, and electric vehicle markets.

What people are saying

“Today marks an inflection point for Pure Lithium,” said Pure Lithium Founder, Chairman and CEO Emilie Bodoin. “After four and a half years of research and development and building up a portfolio of more than 128 patents and patent applications, we are now laser focused on rapidly growing the business and moving from the lab to market in the fastest, most capital-efficient manner possible.”

“Supporting domestic renewable manufacturing benefits, us all in so many ways — we’re creating jobs, strengthening our national security and building a more sustainable, safer and healthier world not just for ourselves but for our kids and generations to come,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. “I’m pleased to welcome Pure Lithium to Chicago and their work manufacturing our state’s first commercially viable lithium metal battery, helping grow Illinois’s leadership in clean energy.”

“Illinois has established itself as a premier destination for businesses to locate and expand, and Pure Lithium decision to relocate their operations from Boston to Chicago – making a significant investment and bringing 50 new jobs to our region – is a true testament to that,” Lisa Clemmons-Stott, Senior Economic Advisor, Director’s Office, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said on behalf of Governor J.B. Pritzker. “We are committed to continuing this work in lockstep with Pure Lithium and other innovators to achieve these collaborative goals.”

“Your investment here is deeply meaningful to our communities,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said at the event. “With our city's world class workforce, renowned universities and proximity to national labs, I know that Pure Lithium will continue to thrive here. Our city offers unmatched access to logistics, infrastructure, top engineering talent, and a diverse business community that allows companies to grow and to create more opportunities to scale production and reach global markets.”

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