- U.S. founded battery technology firm, Pure Lithium, is set to relocate all of its operations from Boston, Massachusetts to Chicago, Illinois, as it looks to scale up towards full-scale commercial production.
- Pure Lithium is investing a significant $46 million into its new Illinois operations, backed by the State of Illinois’ Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) program.
- The move will allow the firm to produce the state’s first commercially viable lithium metal battery, destined for EVs, energy storage, consumer electronics, and more.
Pure Lithium relocates to Illinois as it gears up for commercial battery production
Set to open later this year in Chicago, Pure Lithium’s new facility will target its lithium batteries at a number of sectors, including the EV industry and battery energy storage sector. With a focus on commercialising their lithium metal anode technology, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in building out the Illinois’ green supply chain.
The relocation brings Pure Lithium closer to Argonne National Laboratory, with whom the company is collaborating on a Department of Energy-funded project to scale up recycled lithium anode production. It also brings the firm closer to big players in the EV space, such as Rivian, who produce its electric SUVs at its plant in Normal, Illinois.
With the powerful EV and battery-related incentives available in Illinois, both for the public and for businesses, the state is quickly establishing itself as a leader within the EV industry.
Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, commented:
“I am excited to welcome the team at Pure Lithium to our state, where they’ll be an excellent addition to the business landscape and burgeoning clean energy ecosystem. Their investment will not only create jobs and economic opportunity for our people but help power the green revolution right here in Illinois.”
Pure Lithium Founder and CEO, Emilie Bodoin, added:
“Our new facility in Chicago aligns with the company’s long-term operational goals and growth strategy. This is a decisive step in the company’s transition from pure R&D to scaling up for commercial production. This requires different technologies, different facilities and different skillsets. This move allows us to construct a semi-automated battery pilot line vertically integrating our lithium metal reactor, and the incentives assist in funding critical pilot equipment, accelerating our timeline to market.”
