Battery material manufacturer Vianode has signed a long-term supply agreement with General Motors (GM). The contract covers the supply of synthetic graphite for electric vehicle batteries until 2033 and is estimated to be worth several billion US dollars. Vianode will produce the material in a large-scale plant in North America that will comply with the requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act. Production is expected to start in 2027.
Material meets required performance standards
According to Vianode, the contract includes a minimum purchase commitment and is the result of a multi-year qualification process which is said to have confirmed that the graphite initially produced in Norway meets the required performance and validation standards. The material will be used in battery cells produced by GM through its Ultium Cells LLC joint venture with LG Energy Solution.
Up to 90 percent less carbon emissions
Vianode emphasizes that the production of its synthetic anode graphite produces up to 90 percent less carbon emissions than conventional methods. Unlike natural graphite, which is extracted from carbonaceous rocks, synthetic graphite is produced in an energy-intensive, high-temperature process. With a multi-phased investment strategy, the company aims to supply materials for three million electric vehicles per year by 2030.
