Clariant focuses on benchmark sustainable technology for high-power electric vehicle batteries

Muttenz, February 26, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, is focusing on its pioneering Wet Process Technology to ensure benchmark quality, premium lithium-iron phosphate cathode materials for automotive OEMs and battery manufacturers.

Clariant’s Life Power® P2 lithium-iron phosphate cathode materials product family is produced at its Candiac site in Canada. The materials are a benchmark in terms of purity and consistent quality and provide outstanding power capability and low-temperature performance. Closure of the company’s dry process pilot plant at St. Bruno, Montreal, emphasizes its confidence in the superior power performance and consistent quality achieved through Wet Process Technology.

EngHeng Khoo, Vice President, Energy Storage, Clariant, comments: “Clariant is the largest industrial scale high-quality lithium iron phosphate provider to the market. We believe Wet Process Technology is the way forward to ensure future-proof, superior quality cathode materials for Li-ion batteries that can help car producers support the trend toward green mobility.”

Battery manufacturers are already taking advantage of Clariant’s Life Power P2 materials. Examples include a full electric car rental scheme in a major European city and electric buses on the streets of many cities in the world.

Life Power P2 provides vehicle battery manufacturers with a cathode material with long term price stability, as all components are available in abundance. It features high thermal stability and is therefore much safer than conventional cathode materials. The raw materials are non hazardous, which reduces environmental and health risks significantly. Batteries based on Life Power P2 also have a long life, high power, and can be charged within short time.