A Queensland company with cutting-edge battery refining technology has expanded its global footprint through the acquisition of a refinery plant in Germany.
Queensland mineral refiner set to shake up electric vehicle battery sector
A Queensland company with cutting-edge battery refining technology has expanded its global footprint through the acquisition of a refinery plant in Germany.
Pure Battery Technologies (PBT), headquartered in Brisbane, was founded in 2018 to produce environmentally superior, very pure battery materials for lithium ion batteries with technology initially developed by the University of Queensland.
The acquisition of the plant in the German city of Hagen will provide a foothold in the European battery market while demonstrating the commercial viability of the technology. This important step in PBT’s commercial strategy will provide a working example for investors of its planned larger scale refinery plant in Townsville.
The Townsville project has completed its feasibility study and is expected to create 100 jobs for the region when it is completed. The project would also establish North Queensland’s credentials as an enviro-tech processing hub.
PBT’s Managing Director Bjorn Zikarsky said the commercial benefits of the Hagen acquisition were numerous, but the real win was for the environment.
“The current processes for refining battery materials and making electric vehicle (EV) batteries in general, has a significant environmental impact in terms of CO2 emissions and the use of hazardous chemicals like solvents. Our Selective Acid Leaching (SAL) process removes the need for solvents and much of the energy, or emissions, required to produce high-quality materials, when compared with existing technologies.
“Batteries made with our end-product start out much better for the environment than other options on the market. This is particularly appealing to EV manufacturers who are looking at improving the long-term sustainability of their EV production,” he said.
PBT is collaborating with one of the world’s largest nickel recyclers, German CRONIMET Group on its expansion into the European EV market. Together they are looking to create solutions for the emerging EV battery supply chain.
PBT’s Chairman, Stephen Wilmot said the Company saw itself as a market leader in environmentally superior refining technology and would use the German acquisition to expand its reach into the LIB cathode recycling market which will ultimately create a closed-loop economy.
“Our entry into the European market is a major step in our global plan. We see ourselves as a market leader in refining technology. We also have the advantage that our process is an environmentally friendly enabler for the LIB cathode material recycling market. We recognize Europe as a leader in that area, so it makes sense for us to have a presence there,” Wilmot said.
Electric vehicles, phones, computers and renewable energy storage segments all use lithium ion batteries, of which the materials PBT makes are a key component. The company’s efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly technology positions it very well to take advantage of this burgeoning market, particularly with regard to electric vehicles.
In 2015 around half a million electric vehicles were sold worldwide, according to UBS estimates this is expected to grow tenfold to over 5 million by 2025. This growth is being driven by advancements in battery technology which lower cost and increase the driving range of electric vehicles, making them more appealing to consumers.
While the Australian appetite for electric vehicles has room to grow, PBT’s move into Europe means it can reap the benefits of a more expansive market while also delivering economic rewards on home soil.
An Australian company using home-grown technology to make great strides in the industry, even during a global pandemic and economic downturn was something everyone in the country could be proud of, Wilmot added.
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Pure Battery Technologies is an Australian business using a simple, environmentally superior processing technology proven to produce high-quality, more affordable nickel and cobalt battery materials.
Media Contacts:
Collette Hetherton I +61 419 728 690 I media@purebatterytech.com
Brett Davis I + 84 932 103 985 I