During an engaging interview at PDAC 2024 with Tracy Weslosky of InvestorNews, Dan Blondal, CEO, Director, and Founder of Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO), shared insights into the company’s innovative strides and strategic partnerships, notably with Sumitomo Metal Mining. Blondal described Sumitomo as a “fantastic class one partner” with extensive experience in cathode manufacturing and technology, highlighting the partnership’s role in enhancing Nano One’s position in the battery materials market. With a robust patent portfolio of 40 patents and over 50 pending, Blondal emphasized the importance of continuous innovation in strengthening the company’s technological leadership and shareholder value. Government support, particularly from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), totaling around $25 million in funding, underscores the strong backing Nano One has received, further solidifying its stance in the industry.

Blondal highlighted three competitive advantages of Nano One: its unique position with the only North American LFP production facility outside Asia, its one-pot process that reduces cost, complexity, and environmental impact, and a strategic expansion plan aiming to deploy its technology globally through a “Design-Once-Build-Many” approach. These strengths, according to Blondal, place Nano One in a prime position to capture a significant share of the growing LFP market, which is crucial for electric vehicles and energy storage solutions. The feasibility study for Nano One’s first commercial plant and the progress at its Candiac pilot plant exemplifies the company’s commitment to scaling up its technology to meet global demands efficiently.

Blondal’s vision for 2024 emphasizes expanding Nano One’s customer base, advancing a feasibility study to solidify financial and operational plans for their commercial plant, and securing critical raw material supplies. This approach highlights the company’s strategy to scale its patented technology, aiming for a significant impact on the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors, supported by robust partnerships and government engagement.

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About Nano One Materials Corp.

Nano One Materials Corp. (Nano One) is a clean technology company with a patented, scalable and low carbon intensity industrial process for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. With strategic collaborations and partnerships, including automotive OEMs and strategic industry supply chain companies like Sumitomo Metal Mining, BASF, Umicore and Rio Tinto. Nano One’s technology is applicable to electric vehicles, energy storage, and consumer electronics, reducing costs and carbon intensity while improving environmental impact. The Company aims to pilot and demonstrate its technology as turn-key production solutions for license, joint venture, and independent production opportunities, leveraging Canadian talent and critical minerals for emerging markets in North America, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific region. Nano One has received funding from SDTC and the Governments of Canada and British Columbia.

To learn more about Nano One Materials Corp., click here

Disclaimer: Nano One Materials Corp. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc. (“InvestorNews”), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning the Company, including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on SedarPlus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

In a recent InvestorNews interview, host Brandon Colwell spoke with Dan Blondal, Founder, CEO, and Director of Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO), about Nano One’s collaboration agreement and $16.9 million strategic investment from Sumitomo Metal Mining. Dan emphasized the importance of this partnership, highlighting Sumitomo’s position as one of the world’s leading vertically integrated miner, refiner and producer of cathode active materials.  

Dan goes on to explain the uniqueness of Nano One’s One-Pot process, which eliminates the need for chemical intermediates and Sulphate waste streams when producing cathode active materials. Dan discusses how this eco-friendly and simplified approach has garnered the interest of major players like Sumitomo and Rio Tinto, as well as OEMs looking to streamline their supply chains and reduce environmental impact.

Dan outlined their plans to focus on their operations in Candiac, Quebec, where they acquired Johnson Matthey’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) facility. Dan discusses how the experienced team there, along with the one-pot process, positions Nano One to supply the automotive industry efficiently and sustainably. Dan further adds that Sumitomo’s equity investment will help drive piloting and process improvement, fostering integration with Sumitomo’s LFP ambitions worldwide.

Dan discusses how LFP will play a pivotal role in the mass adoption of electric vehicles, as it offers lower cost and improved cyclability, making it a suitable choice for affordable, smaller batteries. He pointed out that China’s LFP market share is already significant, and this trend is expected to extend globally, driven by the mass-market electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.

To access the complete interview, click here

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About Nano One Materials Corp.

Nano One Materials Corp. (Nano One) is a clean technology company with a patented, scalable and low carbon intensity industrial process for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. With strategic collaborations and partnerships, including automotive OEMs and strategic industry supply chain companies like BASF, Umicore and Rio Tinto. Nano One’s technology is applicable to electric vehicles, energy storage, and consumer electronics, reducing costs and carbon intensity while improving environmental impact. Nano One aims to pilot and demonstrate its technology as turn-key production solutions for license, joint venture, and independent production opportunities, leveraging Canadian talent and critical minerals for emerging markets in North America, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific region. Nano One has received funding from SDTC and the Governments of Canada and British Columbia.

To learn more about Nano One Materials Corp., click here

Disclaimer: Nano One Materials Corp. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc. (“InvestorNews”), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning the Company, including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on SedarPlus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO) operates the sole North American lithium iron phosphate (LFP) production facility located in Candiac, Quebec, with plans to convert the existing facility to the One-Pot process for production up to 2,000tpa by the end of 2024. The company will expand the production in Quebec to meet demand and its business model incorporates licensing and joint ventures for global expansion.

In an announcement on September 14, 2023, Nano One reported significant progress in demonstrating full commercial scale volumes from the Candiac facility. The company states:

“Recent One-Pot trials at the Candiac plant have yielded LFP at commercial scale with results mirroring lab performance. Transitioning to full commercial size reactors, Nano One’s LFP is ready for Q4 customer evaluations. Moreover, installation and optimization of the 200tpa reactors are ongoing.”

Additionally, Nano One recently announced a collaboration agreement with global cathode materials giant Sumitomo Metal Mining on September 25, 2023. This announcement included a strategic equity investment of C$16.9 million commitment and will undoubtedly provide potential opportunities in sales, licensing, and partnership opportunities. Notably, Sumitomo is a supplier of materials to Panasonic which in turn supplies Tesla with battery cells which shows the quality of their client lists.

Sumitomo’s established role in the sector as a leading miner, refiner, and cathode active materials producer solidifies the significance of this collaboration.

With global trends leaning towards the electrification of transport and clean energy, the demand for batteries and cathode materials is surging. Forecasts predict the cathode market in North America and Europe alone to reach US$85 billion by 2035, presenting unprecedented opportunities for emerging market players.

Nano One’s Business Strategy

While Nano One’s strategy remains versatile, the primary focus will be LFP production initially in Canada at the Candiac facility. Its business model includes licensing and joint ventures with partners for global expansion in jurisdictions like the US, Europe, and Asia.

In Conclusion

Nano One’s evolution from a minor participant to a significant player in the cathode materials sector is evident. Collaborations with industry leaders like Sumitomo, Rio Tinto and VW place them prominently on the map. The company currently boasts a market cap of C$320 million.

Canada in Focus

Canadian markets are showing signs of weakness as metal prices take a dip. Alongside this, U.S. stock index futures are experiencing a slip, with the market anticipating key economic data and awaiting remarks from Federal Reserve policymakers throughout the week.

European shares too are not performing optimally, with the STOXX 600 index seeing a pullback due to China-exposed shares. In the East, Japan’s Nikkei has displayed resilience, rebounding robustly as investors see potential in previously beaten-down stocks after the index’s tumultuous week. The metals market sees gold prices trickling down, given the U.S. dollar’s surge, which is attributed to predictions of sustained higher interest rates. Meanwhile, oil prices are climbing, reflecting concerns about a tightening supply, especially after Moscow’s surprising temporary fuel export ban.

A notable partnership emerges between Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. and Canada’s Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO). The former is investing C$ 16.9 million in Nano One, a company specializing in sustainable battery material production. The strategic partnership aims at enhancing global battery supply chains and developing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly battery cathode materials for EVs.

U.S. Market Updates

The U.S. market trajectory is heading downward as September wraps up. The Dow Jones, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite are all showing negative trends.

Labor tensions are evident in the automotive sector, with Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) citing “significant gaps” in their ongoing negotiations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. Meanwhile, the UAW intensifies strikes against General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and Stellantis.

Rupert Murdoch, the stalwart media tycoon, stepped down from Fox Corporation (NASDAQ: FOX), marking an end to his illustrious seven-decade career. The compensation details for both Rupert and his successor, Lachlan Murdoch, have been disclosed, showing a significant hike for the senior Murdoch.

Other notable U.S. business news includes The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s (NASDAQ: GT) rationalization plans, a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) by Metabyte over trademark rights, and Oracle Corporation’s (NYSE: ORCL) substantial investment in Ampere Computing.

Global Glimpses – Europe, Asia, and India

The Chinese property giant, Evergrande, faces another setback as it discloses its inability to issue new debt, sending its shares tumbling.

While Hollywood’s writers union and major studios reach a tentative agreement, potentially ending industry strikes, Russian crude oil supplies surge despite G7 sanctions, and Germany stalls its building insulation standards, providing a breather to its building sector.

Sweden’s SBB offloads a chunk of its education subsidiary, TotalEnergies preps to discuss its Namibian oil prospects, and India exhibits a mixed bag of financial news. India’s foreign exchange reserves witness a dip, but optimism surrounds its bond yield following JPMorgan’s decision. The tech industry breathes a sigh of relief as India decides to defer import license requirements that could have impacted giants like Apple and Samsung.

In summary, as September concludes, markets worldwide display volatility, reflecting the complexities of geopolitics, evolving economic partnerships, and sector-specific dynamics. Investors and market enthusiasts are advised to keep an eagle eye on these developments to make informed decisions.

As we catapult into a future shaped by quantum cybersecurity, green hydrogen, and state-of-the-art EV battery technology, the next week’s InvestorTalk events stand as your passport to the bleeding edge of innovation. Set your calendars; these sessions are brimming with insights and revelations.

Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC | OTCQB: QNCCF): On August 15, delve deep into the fabric of quantum mechanics with Francis Bellido. As cyber threats evolve, Quantum eMotion is ensuring our digital fortresses stand impregnable. Their patented Quantum Random Number Generator capitalizes on quantum unpredictability, heralding a new dawn in hardware security. Targets? Everything from Blockchain to Quantum Cryptography.
Click Here to Register for this InvestorTalk at 9 AM EST.

SunHydrogen, Inc. (OTC: HYSR): Imagine powering tomorrow with sunlight and water. On August 16, Tim Young introduces us to the SunHydrogen Panel technology. With an ambition to fuel the emerging $12 trillion hydrogen economy, SunHydrogen aims to drive the future – emission-free.
Click Here to Register for this InvestorTalk at 9 AM EST.

Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO): That same day, at 4 PM EST, Dan Blondal unveils the green magic behind efficient lithium-ion battery cathode materials. With giants like BASF and Rio Tinto as allies, Nano One’s technology eyes the vast expanse of electric vehicles, energy storage, and consumer electronics Click Here to Register for this InvestorTalk

The Grand InvestorTalk at The National Club: August 17 is an ensemble of visionaries:

• Spencer Huh from NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (TSXV: NBM | OTCQB: NBMFF): Unearthing the potentials of silicon in EV lithium-ion batteries.
• Bundeep Singh Rangar of Fineqia International Inc. (CSE: FNQ): Navigating the future web with digital assets, tokenization, and more.
• Stephen Burega from Romios Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: RG | OTCQB: RMIOF): From precious metals in the “Golden Triangle” of BC to global mineral explorations – it’s a golden journey.
• Thomas Smeenk of Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM | OTCQB: HMTXF): Introducing blood-based stem cell therapeutics that have the potential to revolutionize healthcare.

RSVP for this event that kicks off at 9:30 AM EST by sending an email to [email protected]

Diving Deeper:

NEO Battery Materials Ltd.: Based in Vancouver, they’re redefining EV battery materials, particularly silicon anode materials, promising enhanced efficiency and capacity over traditional graphite anodes.

Romios Gold Resources Inc.: This Canadian mineral giant, with its vast claims spanning from BC’s “Golden Triangle” to Nevada, merges tradition with innovation in gold, copper, and silver explorations.

Hemostemix: A pioneer in autologous stem cell therapy since 2003, this World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award winner is scaling blood-based stem cell therapeutics, which promise groundbreaking treatments.

Fineqia: At the crossroads of the digital revolution, Fineqia is capitalizing on tokenization, blockchain tech, NFTs, AI, and fintech. From managing debt securities in the UK to investing in next-gen Internet technologies, they’re forging digital frontiers.

Prepare for a week of revelations and insights. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, an innovation enthusiast, or someone curious about tomorrow, next week’s InvestorTalks is a trove of enlightenment. Mark your schedule and be part of this journey into the future.

One of the largest gaps in the North American EV metals supply chain is the need for ‘western supply’ of lithium iron phosphate (“LFP”) cathodes used in most standard range electric cars, smaller electric cars, commercial vehicles, and stationary energy storage. These demand areas are set to surge this decade, yet where is the non-China supply of LFP going to come from?

At Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting on May 16, 2023, Elon Musk showed a very interesting slide that stated solar and wind production needs to increase by 3x/yr, battery production by 29x/yr, battery electric vehicle (“BEV”) production by 11x/yr. The takeaway from the slide is that the greatest area of forecast demand is battery production. Another key thought is that Tesla sees most, if not all, of their standard range electric cars, smaller electric cars, and stationary energy storage batteries using LFP cathode chemistry.

Solar and wind production needs to increase by 3x/yr, battery production by 29x/yr, BEV production by 11x/yr to reach a 100% renewable energy world

Source: Tesla 2023 shareholder meeting

All of Tesla’s current LFP batteries come from China, which results in US-made Tesla electric cars with LFP batteries only receiving half of the IRA clean vehicle tax credit of US$7,500. Similar to other EV OEMs using China batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (SHE: 300750) (“CATL”), Gotion High-tech Co., Ltd. (SHE: 002074), and others.

The next big thing will be North American and European LFP battery production. LFP cathodes and batteries could be made in North America using a Western supply chain. There is just one company currently able to supply a small volume of LFP cathode material from North America.

Nano One Materials Corp.

The Company is Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO) (“Nano One”). Nano One owns the only existing North American lithium iron phosphate (“LFP”) production facility (“the Candiac facility”). Nano One is a battery materials focused company that has developed and patented numerous more effective ways to produce cathode materials that are cost-effective with no waste streams and an improved environmental footprint.

Nano One is converting its 2,400tpa LFP Candiac facility in Québec to the One-Pot process with small pilot plant volumes targeted for end of 2023 for evaluation with partners and scaling up to approx. capacity of 2,000tpa by end of 2024.

On April 24, 2023, Nano One updated the market on their commercial plans for LFP and other cathode materials. Highlights of the plan were quoted as follows:

• “Nano One’s technology, manufacturing hub and plans represent a game-changing opportunity to secure sustainable and clean battery supply chains in North America.
• Nano One’s systematic plans jump start the commercialization of its One-Pot process starting at 200 tonnes per year in 2023, expanding in steps to 2,000, 10,000 and hundreds of thousands of tonnes per year.
• $40 million in cash, $7 million in grants remaining to draw down and multiple proposals for additional government support.“

Nano One’s Candiac facility in Québec is being retrofitted with its new One-Pot reactors (using Nano One’s patented one pot process), and will be commissioned initially as a Pilot Plant with 200tpa in Q3 2023, ramping up to 2,000 tpa. The Pilot Plant will produce product off-take samples to be qualified by cathode and battery manufacturers. Nano One then plans to expand this to a 10,000tpa Demo Plant.

Of particular interest was the part highlighted above, notably “hundreds of thousands of tonnes per year“. Given the massive demand wave ahead for LFP cathodes and a new North American supply chain, the potential growth ahead for Nano One is enormous. We wrote about this opportunity in late 2022 here.

CEO Dan Blondal commented:

“The cathode market opportunity is extraordinary, with production volumes projected to grow, in North America for instance, from thousands to over a million tonnes per year, within a decade. We are laying a solid foundation to address these opportunities and to bring increased value to our shareholders. It begins with a strategy that leverages our newly acquired facility in Candiac, Québec which is the only LFP production plant and most experienced operational team in North America.……”

Nano One says they will launch LFP in North America, followed by Europe and the Indo-Pacific region to power hundreds of gigawatt hours (“GWh”) of battery storage and millions of EVs.

Nano One state:

“This plan could enable hundreds of millions in revenue during Nano One’s initial years of commercial operations while also enabling demonstration of its technology to the market, potential licensors, joint ventures, and investors, at a scale relevant to automotive OEM and renewable energy storage interests.”

Nano One’s Candiac 2,400tpa LFP plant (Quebec, Canada) and expansion plans for a one-pot process Pilot and Demo Plant

Source: Nano One company presentation

Nano One also plans to make cathode materials for NMC and LNMO batteries

In addition, Nano One has commercialization plans for nickel manganese cobalt (“NMC”) and lithium nickel manganese oxide (“LNMO”) cathode active materials. Nano One also has engineering work underway for a separate 100 tpa NMC and LNMO pilot facility.

Closing remarks

For a long time, Nano One has been seen as a pioneering cathode materials research style company. However, this has changed significantly since their purchase of the Candiac facility in North America. Nano One is now starting a new journey as a commercial cathode materials ‘manufacturer’ with plans to scale to large volumes and supply the emerging North American battery supply chain with critically needed cathode materials LFP and NMC. The company is also implementing its licensing strategy to deploy its technology with partners throughout key markets in Europe, Asia and South America.

Nano One Materials trades on a market cap of C$278 million.

Last week, Bloomberg news reported that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) was in talks to buy Sigma Lithium Corporation (TSXV: SGML | NASDAQ: SGML), a company that is focused its 100%-owned Grota do Cirilo project, a large hard-rock lithium deposit in Brazil with lithium production aiming for 2024.

The stock price of Sigma Lithium was up 16% after the news was released and is up almost 250% over the past year in lockstep with other lithium miners. Electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturers want to lock up lithium supplies as the metal increases since it is a key component in EV batteries and there are worries that demand will soon outstrip supply.

Neither Telsa nor Sigma Lithium released any news release on the subject nor provided any comment to the media. Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is looking at various options to secure its lithium sources, including potentially its own mining and refining.

Previously to fund its exploration and development, Sigma Lithium had signed a funding and 6-year offtake agreement with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (TSE: 8031) of Japan and also signed a six-year lithium offtake agreement with Korean-based LG Energy Solution (KOSE: A373220).

In the past, Tesla signed contracts for lithium with Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. (SZSE: 002460), one of the largest lithium suppliers in the world, and more recently, Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR), an Australian miner.

Is Elon Musk the New Henry Ford?

The reappearance of Henry Ford-style vertical integration in car manufacturing marks a big 180-degree turn from the late 1990s when outsourcing to sub-contractors began.

In the early 1900s (over 100 years ago!), Henry Ford had a keen interest in acquiring and controlling the sources of raw materials for his company to achieve manufacturing self-sufficiency for his automobile operations. By achieving vertical integration, a business strategy in which a company controls all aspects of production, from raw materials to finished products, Henry Ford believed he would ensure a reliable supply chain and potentially reduce costs.

To achieve this desire, Henry Ford bought vast tracts of timberland and built sawmills in Michigan to control the wood required in his vehicles but also used to create shipping containers and for heating his factories. Henry Ford had a strong interest in controlling other sources of raw materials for his company, such as iron ore for steel production, a key component of automobiles, and also coal for his factories.

But Henry Ford also went further afield as he sought to secure a reliable source of rubber for his company. In the mid-1920s, he purchased a large tract of land in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest and established a rubber plantation and community called Fordlandia. Unfortunately, it was abandoned in the late 1930s due to challenges with the workers and the physical environment.

The New Vertical Integration Trend Continues…

Not to be outdone by Tesla, earlier this month, General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) announced the closing of the initial tranche, a $320 million investment, of a previously announced $650 million investment and offtake agreement with Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC | NYSE: LAC). Lithium Americas is advancing the Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project in Argentina towards first production and is also developing the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada which is advancing towards construction.

Last year, Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO | LSE: RIO) and the Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)  signed an agreement whereby Rio Tinto would supply Ford with materials including lithium, low-carbon aluminum, and copper and Ford would become the initial customer for Rio Tinto’s Rincon lithium project in Argentina.

It’s also happening with the smaller technology components in EV batteries. In June 2022, Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO), a company with patented processes for the low-cost, low-environmental footprint production of high-performance cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries, announced a strategic US$10 million equity investment and collaboration agreement with Rio Tinto. The two companies entered into an agreement under which they would work together to support the acceleration of the commercialization of Nano One’s patented cathode technology.

Also in June of last year, NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (TSXV: NBM | OTCQB: NBMFF) announced a C$3 million strategic investment from Automobile & PCB Inc. (KOSE: A015260) into its Korean subsidiary for the first phase of its commercial plant project. NEO focuses on producing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries through its proprietary single-step nanocoating process.

Final Thoughts

Ford’s attempts to control raw materials were not always successful, and he faced challenges such as labor disputes, market fluctuations, and supply chain issues.

Nonetheless, his focus on vertical integration and self-sufficiency had an impact on the American manufacturing industry.

Perhaps what is old is new again.

In this InvestorIntel interview, Tracy Weslosky talks to Nano One Materials Corp.‘s (TSX: NANO) Founder, CEO, and Director, Dan Blondal about being awarded $10 million in non-dilutive, non-repayable contributions from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (“SDTC”).

Using the funds to fast-track the conversion of its Candiac lithium iron phosphate (“LFP”) facility (North America’s only LFP plant) to its patented One-Pot process, Dan explains how Nano One is progressing towards securing supply chains for the North American lithium-ion battery ecosystems.

Speaking about Nano One’s strategic partnerships with Rio Tinto, BASF, Umicore, CBMM, and undisclosed automotive OEMs, Dan discusses how the Candiac facility will help them accelerate licensing and offtake agreements that would then enable the Company to scale the facility larger and lead to commercial production and revenues.

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About Nano One Materials Corp.

Nano One Materials Corp (Nano One) is a clean technology company with a patented, scalable, and low-carbon intensity industrial process for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. It employs approximately 120 people at its innovation and commercialization hubs in British Columbia and Québec, including the only LFP plant and production team in North America. It has strategic collaborations and partnerships, that include Rio Tinto, BASF, Umicore, CBMM, and various automotive OEMs.

Nano One’s technology is applicable to electric vehicles, energy storage, consumer electronics, and next-generation batteries in the global push for a zero-emission future. Its One-Pot process, its coated single crystal materials, and its Metal to Cathode Active Material (M2CAM®) technologies address fundamental performance needs and supply chain constraints; they also reduce equipment and raw material costs, operating expenses, and carbon intensity; and they eliminate a significant waste stream for a much-improved environmental footprint.

The Company aims to pilot and demonstrate its technology as turn-key CAM production solutions for license, joint venture, and independent production opportunities. This leverages Canadian talent, critical minerals, renewable energy, and a thriving ecosystem with access to large emerging markets in North America, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific region. Nano One has received funding from SDTC and the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia.

To learn more about Nano One Materials Corp., click here

Disclaimer: Nano One Materials Corp. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

Tracy Weslosky chats with Nano One Materials Corp.‘s (TSX: NANO) Founder, CEO, and Director, Dan Blondal, to discuss their recent Joint Development Agreement with Umicore. Nano One and Umicore have entered into a joint development agreement to improve the throughput and cost of cathode manufacturing with the goal of making Umicore’s cathode materials using Nano One’s patented M2CAM® One-Pot process. Umicore is a massive company in the battery materials space, with €2.1 billion (turnover of €13.8 billion) in revenue in the first half of 2022, making this announcement exciting for the Nano One team.

Dan goes on to say, “We can’t get to terawatt hours of batteries and electric cars in everybody’s driveways unless we solve some of the big problems associated with the scale up of this industry.” The agreement leverages both parties’ technologies for cathode materials to drive down cost, complexity, and environmental footprint. Nano One shareholders can anticipate seeing impacts on the bottom line in years, as the project is measured in multiple phases with go/no-go milestones.

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About Nano One Materials Corp.

Nano One Materials Corp (Nano One) is a clean technology company with a patented, scalable and low carbon intensity industrial process for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. It employs approximately 120 people at its innovation and commercialization hubs in British Columbia and Québec, including the only LFP plant and production team in North America. It has strategic collaborations and partnerships, that include Rio Tinto, BASF, Umicore, CBMM and various automotive OEMs.

Nano One’s technology is applicable to electric vehicles, energy storage, consumer electronics and next generation batteries in the global push for a zero-emission future. Its One-Pot process, its coated single crystal materials, and its Metal to Cathode Active Material (M2CAM®) technologies address fundamental performance needs and supply chain constraints; they also reduce equipment and raw material costs, operating expenses, and carbon intensity; and they eliminate a significant waste stream for a much-improved environmental footprint.

The company aims to pilot and demonstrate its technology as turn-key CAM production solutions for license, joint venture and independent production opportunities. This leverages Canadian talent, critical minerals, renewable energy, and a thriving ecosystem with access to large emerging markets in North America, Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Nano One has received funding from the Government of Canada and Government of British Columbia.

To learn more about Nano One Materials Corp., click here

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This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

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Unfortunately, a publicly traded company can’t do much about the timing of news as they are required to disclose material information pretty much immediately. When you put out a press release on December 21st, when everyone is seemingly obsessed with holiday travel issues and winter storm warnings, it can potentially fly under the radar of investors. Pile on a market that was visited by the Grinch for all but one day in the last two weeks (ironically the best day in that period for the S&P 500 was Dec 21) and you can see how there is the potential for a very meaningful piece of news to appear to get lost in the shuffle.

I’m referring to recent news from Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO) that stated it had entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for production process technologies for cathode active materials (CAM) for lithium-ion batteries with Umicore.

This is a really big deal for Nano One, but before I explore why that’s the case let’s look at why I think the market appears to have either missed it or ignored it. Sure the stock rallied almost 8% the day the news came out, but as I noted above, it was a good day for the market overall and many stocks saw substantial gains that day. In the case of Nano One, the volume traded that day was not out of the ordinary, and the share price has subsequently sold off to below where it was trading when this news first came out. More telling (at least to me), is that there isn’t a noticeably above average trading volume day since this news. Yes, overall market volume has been below average for the last few days, but if a company puts out material news, somebody will take notice, and it appears (based on trading volume) no one has.

At this point, you might be thinking I’m the one missing the point and perhaps the news isn’t as big a deal as I’m making it out to be. I can live with that but I’ll let you be the judge as I flesh out what this could mean for Nano One.

Let’s start with who the JDA was signed with – Umicore. Belgium-based Umicore SA is a significant player in the battery materials world, with revenues of €2.1 billion (turnover of €13.8 billion) in the first half of 2022 and currently employs 11,350 people. It is a leading circular materials technology company with an extensive expertise in the fields of material science, chemistry, and metallurgy. Umicore is the largest producer of cathode material outside of Asia, and they are far and away the Western world’s largest recycler of technology metals. They are a dominant player in LCO batteries and nickel rich cathode materials. Canadian readers may recall the July 13^th announcement of plans to build a C$1.5 billion battery supply chain plant near Kingston, Ontario. Additionally, Umicore has a joint venture with Volkswagen AG to build precursor and cathode material production capacities in Europe to supply Volkswagen AG’s European battery cell production.

And what could all this mean for Nano One? If the JDA is successful in increasing throughput for high nickel NMC cathode active materials while reducing costs and environmental footprint, we could see Umicore making their cathode materials using Nano One’s patented M2CAM® One-Pot process technology. Now you can see why it’s important to understand who Umicore is and what they’ve got going on. This could be huge for Nano One, albeit both the Kingston facility and the Volkswagen joint venture aren’t slated to be in production until 2025.

Nevertheless, Nano One is on a roll and continues to make material progress. When I last discussed Nano One in August, I commented on how years of hard work was starting to come together and that momentum was starting to snowball. At the time they had recently acquired 100% of the shares of Johnson Matthey Battery Materials Ltd. located in Candiac, Québec, signing a joint development agreement for lithium-ion battery materials with industry giant BASF, and announced a US$10 million equity investment by one of the world’s largest mining companies, Rio Tinto. This latest deal with Umicore brings further credibility to Nano One and signals that this well funded (almost C$46 million in working capital), C$235 million market company appears to be headed in the right direction.