Electric vehicles are ruling the roost when it comes to sustainable transportation. And this has paved the way for new innovations, like EcoGraf’s (ASX: EGR) graphite anodes, typically used to produce lithium-ion batteries, to take centre stage and enable the sustainable growth of EVs.
EcoGraf has received notice from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that its patent application, filed on 1 November 2022, entitled “Method of Producing Purified Graphite” has been examined and received a ‘Notice of Allowance’ in the US. Once EcoGraf pays the issue fee, the patent will be made official.
This is a very important step in the proposed commercialisation of EcoGraf HFfree™ technology, being protected in the US till November 2042. The commercialisation of the technology will also comply with US Treasury IRA guidance on new clean vehicle credit criteria to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.
The HFfree tech is positioned to be an alternative purification technology to create battery anode material used in lithium-ion batteries. The patent also protects the use of the technology in Lithium-ion battery anode recycling.
Battery recycling is now recognised as an important part of the transition to clean energy with increasing requirements in the EU and US to achieve greater recycling. A McKinsey report found that 94% of EV batteries are set to reach end of life come 2040, with recycling set to gain new ground.
EcoGraf’s HFfree™ purification technology was developed by the Company in Australia in 2017. Since then, it has refined the tech through extensive testing and analysis conducted in Australia, Europe and Asia. In fact, EcoGraf has also been scouting for areas in North America and Europe where it could set up shop.
Patents and trademarks have been lodged by EcoGraf in all key battery markets to protect the IP associated with this process.
The HFfree technology has ambitious sustainability goals, from zero-waste production to regionalised supply chains. Being the first of its kind outside China, the Company wants to make the most of the booming EV market in major regions.
As part of its Patent Convention Treaty (PCT) filing, patent submissions have also been made in all planned battery manufacturing hubs, including the EU, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, East Africa, South Africa and Australia.
To ensure the full protection of its technology in the US, EcoGraf has also filed a continuation application based on its present US patent application.
As per the announcement, EcoGraf’s HFfree™ technology is an “environmentally superior” and “cost-effective” process for producing high quality battery anode materials using natural flake graphite. The technology boasts a vertically integrated battery anode development process wherein the Company is advancing its planned Product Qualification Facility. Plus, it has teamed up with certain groups to consider co-locating (or expanding) its commercial scale facilities in the global battery manufacturing hubs.
Just last month, the Company also received $48.9 million in funding from the Australian Commonwealth Government as part of its Critical Minerals Development Program. The unanimous nods of approval from the US, Australia and more are set to advance EcoGraf’s mission.
Alinda is a Business Reporter for The Sentiment
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