AnteoTech scores maiden commercial order from European EV maker for its innovative silicon battery technology

Clean energy and high-tech materials company AnteoTech (ASX: ADO) has received a first commercial order for its proprietary Ultranode battery anode technology which contains 70 per cent silicon. 

The initial $40,000 purchase will see an unnamed “major” European electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer – known as EV1 – test and evaluate the technology over the coming months as it seeks a step change in silicon content for its next generation batteries.

Management noted that the order represents a milestone accomplishment for AnteoTech which helps to validate the key features and ongoing development of its Ultranode battery anode technology. EV1 is expected to launch the evaluation program shortly as it looks to gauge Ultranode’s performance enhancing characteristics in batteries.

The testing of Ultranode will run in parallel with EV1’s continuing assessment of AnteoTech’s additive product known as Anteo X, which helps facilitate the transition to high-content silicon anodes and improve performance in lithium-ion batteries.

AnteoTech managing director and chief executive officer, David Radford, said:

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with EV1 and support not only their current battery optimisation programme using Anteo X, but their future battery vision of increased silicon content anodes, which we believe only our Ultranode can offer them. 

The anode that is being purchased contains 70% silicon which is significantly higher than the anode currently being evaluated which has 10% silicon active material. This new commercial sale and evaluation will take place in the coming months and deepen our potential future engagement with this leading EV manufacturer.”

According to AnteoTech, increased silicon content in battery anodes could play a key role in the next generation of battery performance and storage capabilities by reducing the need for graphite which is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive.

More specifically, management believes the EV market is striving for cost reductions but without compromising on battery performance. This may create an opportunity for silicon to transition from an additive in battery technology and into a core component.

However, boosting the silicon content in anodes comes with its challenges in terms of cost and performance, with established high-silicon anodes deemed by the company as being too expensive for all but the priciest EVs. 

In turn, AnteoTech sees its patent protected Ultranode and Anteo X technologies as a fitting solution to such issues by utilising a cheaper, lower-grade, and unrefined silicon material. 

According to the company, such traits help produce a thinner and lighter product which is 8.5 times cheaper than existing alternatives, whilst also delivering a 35 per cent improvement in battery charge time and life. 

More broadly, AnteoTech seeks to capture a significant slice of the global battery market which it estimates could be worth as much as US$180 billion by the end of the decade.

Management noted that the silicon anode sector also continues to expand at a rapid pace, with production capacity anticipated to triple this year and more than double again in 2025. 

In the longer term, AlnteoTech sees the silicon anode market maintaining a strong growth trend well into the next decade as the uptake of EVs and hybrid vehicles build up steam.