U.S. Battery Makers Look Beyond Lithium for Long-Term Supply Stability
As geopolitical pressure mounts and Chinese export enforcement continues, U.S. battery and energy storage firms are rebalancing their material priorities. A quiet but firm shift is underway: less reliance on lithium, more focus on manganese, nickel, graphite, and rare earths.
Key Points:
General Motors and Stellantis are reportedly exploring North American manganese and nickel sources to de-risk EV battery supply chains.
https://www.autonews.com/suppliers/stellantis-gm-battery-materials-sourcingDOE funding now emphasizes "battery-grade graphite" and synthetic anodes over lithium expansion.
https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-45-million-domestic-battery-materials-researchAmerican Battery Technology Company (ABTC) confirmed pilot-scale success for manganese sulfate processing from U.S. ore.
https://americanbatterytechnology.com/news/abtc-successfully-produces-manganese-sulfate/Rare earth magnet facilities are accelerating, with Noveon Magnetics receiving new federal support.
https://www.noveon.co/post/noveon-secures-funding-for-rare-earth-magnets
Why It Matters:
Battery Diversification Is Here – Firms are actively adjusting chemistries and supplier maps to sidestep both lithium overexposure and Chinese gatekeeping.
U.S. Miners Get a Boost – Non-lithium projects once overshadowed now attract policy attention, especially for manganese, graphite, and magnet metals.
EV Cost Models May Shift – Adjustments in battery formulas may tilt price/performance curves, opening space for regional innovation and vertical integration.
Watchlist Companies:
ABTC (American Battery Technology Company) – Advancing domestic manganese and lithium recycling; watch for scaling news.
https://americanbatterytechnology.com/Noveon Magnetics – U.S.-based rare earth magnet producer gaining traction with military and EV partners.
https://www.noveon.co/
Critical Minerals Spotlight:
Manganese – Key for stabilizing cathodes in high-performance batteries. Domestic supply is near-zero today.
Graphite – Dominates anode material in lithium-ion batteries. Over 90% still comes from China.
Nickel – Essential for energy-dense batteries. Global supply is volatile, with Indonesia and Russia as dominant players.
Rare Earths (Neodymium, Praseodymium) – Crucial for EV motors and wind turbines. North America races to build independent supply.
Action Points:
Track U.S. pilot projects in non-lithium minerals—especially manganese, nickel, and graphite.
Monitor DOE grant patterns and corporate partnerships with recyclers or midstream processors.
Evaluate risk-adjusted EV investments based on battery chemistry shifts.
Push for domestic processing facilities to catch up with mining announcements.
https://444Critical.com
This update is for informational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed.