Anode material developer Echion Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with South Korean battery equipment maker Energy Tech Solution (ETS) to develop battery technology based on Echion's XNO niobium-based anode material. ETS is the first total battery solution provider in Echion's partner network, and it will cover production line design, cell assembly equipment and Korea-based cell design R&D for XNO.

Under the MOU, Echion will use ETS as a contract manufacturer for demonstration cells and product design iteration. For customers that want XNO cells, ETS will allocate part of its capacity in Chungju to customize cells to cylindrical, pouch and prismatic form factors. It also offers full turnkey cell design and manufacturing.

ETS is headquartered in Seoul and has additional locations in Chungju and Detroit.

Echion developed XNO for industrial applications such as mining, rail, maritime and data centers, and the company says it outperforms mainstream lithium-ion batteries on performance and durability. Niobium-based batteries are often considered a higher-performing alternative to lithium titanate (LTO) batteries in the premium category of fast-charging batteries with long cycle lives, according to the release. Like LTO anodes, niobium-based anodes operate at a higher voltage than graphite, which reduces the risk of lithium plating during fast charging.

ETS aims to demonstrate XNO-based batteries with up to 50,000 cycles and charge rates as high as 10C.

"We're confident that XNO batteries manufactured by the experts at ETS, on their well-trusted equipment, will give those customers seeking to produce their own XNO batteries the charging speed and cycle life they need to run their businesses," said Jean de La Verpilliere, Echion's CEO.

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