Urbix finds itself increasingly at the center of important conversations around the future of energy in the United States.
“Globally we’re seeing a trend of the electrification of everything,” says Nico Cuevas, CEO and Chairman of Urbix, a company that has found itself growing into world demand for the product they have helped revolutionize.
Cuevas points out that roughly 22 percent of the lithium-ion battery in an electric vehicle is made up of purified and processed graphite. At present, no graphite is mined in the United States and at least 85 percent of natural purified graphite comes from China. Until now.
Urbix’s proprietary methods for the purification and spheroidization of natural graphite are revolutionary and steeped in a genesis of clean and green technology, placing them at the head of a growing field.
Mesa electric vehicle battery supplier collaborating with global company for US production
Mesa-based graphite processing company Urbix Inc. says it’s closer to establishing a $280 million production facility now that it has signed a joint development agreement with South Korea-based global electric vehicle battery maker SK On (SKO) Co. Ltd. to develop materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries.
Under the deal, Urbix will work with SKO on industrialized anode materials that will supply the battery maker’s American gigafactories.
✓ Urbix was founded in 2014 and describes itself as the only U.S. company producing natural battery grade graphite for use in electric vehicles and battery storage systems. It says that its partnership with SKO will accelerate its plans to establish a commercial anode production facility. Plans call for producing 28,500 metric tons of anode products yearly — enough to power 350,000 high-performance EVs — by 2025.
The Mesa company said through a spokesperson that it hasn’t decided yet where its production facility will be located but that it hopes to secure a site by the end of March, and places both inside and outside Arizona are being considered. Urbix currently employs 55 people in Arizona and said it hopes to hire at least another 30 over the next 12 months.
The partnership with SKO helps reduce the need for EV battery-grade graphite from China.
“Working with such a renowned battery manufacturer means that we can accelerate our production efforts, and more effectively address the supply of graphite,” Urbix CEO Nico Cuevas said in a statement. “By utilizing Urbix’s innovative technologies, we can shift more of the refinement and production of battery-grade graphite to the US, a mission we remain committed to.”
Urbix says its proprietary graphite processing system uses 10% of the energy, 6% of the acid and 7% of the time needed by existing processes. The Mesa company also said it eliminates the use of hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids and has yields that are more than twice the industry standard."
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✓ SKO is the lithium-ion battery subsidiary of SK Innovation. It has two battery manufacturing plants in Georgia. It also has a joint venture with Ford Motor Co., called BlueOval SK, to build three more battery plants in the Southeast that will go online in 2025. That ramp-up in U.S. production means more U.S. supplies are needed.
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✓ The deal also helps SKO benefit under provisions of the federal Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, which uses tax credits to encourage domestic energy production and manufacturing using domestic supplies. The IRA also aims to reduce carbon emissions by about 40% before 2030.
“This agreement is meaningful in increasing the possibility of securing eco-friendly and high-performance anode active materials for use in SK On’s U.S. plants,” Sun Heeyoung, SK On’s vice president in charge of advanced research, in a statement. “SK On will continue to work to develop anode materials that can maximize battery performance.”
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Senator Mark Kelly’s Visit to Urbix Inc. Highlights Importance of Graphite Processing to Economic and National Security - Urbix, Inc.
Urbix, Inc. CEO, Chairman & co-founder, Nico Cuevas (right) greets Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) at the Urbix pilot plant at Mesa, Arizona.
On July 9th, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) toured Urbix, Inc. in Mesa, Arizona, the only environmentally friendly U.S.-based processor of natural graphite in the country. During his visit, Senator Kelly met with the Urbix leadership team and workers at the facility. The tour showcased Urbix’s proprietary methods and technology for purifying and spheroidizing natural graphite, an essential component in lithium-ion batteries. Senator Kelly and the Urbix leadership team also discussed graphite’s increasing importance to the country’s economic future and national security interests, as well as the environmental benefits of processing natural graphite in the U.S. instead of China.
America faces intense competition from geopolitical rivals to secure reliable and sustained access to critical minerals like graphite.
From left: Urbix Director of Operations, Luis Olaguibel; CEO & Chairman, Nico Cuevas, Executive Vice-President, Anthony J. Parkinson; and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) tour the Urbix pilot plant.
“We are fortunate to have leaders like Senator Kelly who are focused on securing supply chains for critical minerals to strengthen the country’s economic future and national security,” said Nico Cuevas, CEO, and Chairman of Urbix Inc. “We are in a competition to lead the global economy and the energy transition that is happening through increased demand for advanced batteries. It is not too late to make the investments and policy changes required to encourage innovation and investment in the industries that will make U.S. companies more competitive in the global market.”
Senator Kelly is also working to address climate change and is a champion of research and development to identify technologies that reduce emissions and make renewable energy more cost-effective. Following his visit, Senator Kelly expressed his support for graphite processing’s critical role in building the 21st century economy.
“Arizona is home to the high tech workforce needed to enhance the supply chain and help our nation achieve its renewable energy goals,” said Senator Mark Kelly. “Homegrown companies like Urbix are innovators in the important effort to maintain American energy independence and break our reliance on China for critical minerals. By making investments in infrastructure, including electric vehicle infrastructure, and in parts of the technology supply chain including microchips, we can continue to grow Arizona’s tech leadership.”
Cuevas added: “We want to thank Senator Kelly for his visit and support for American companies powering the future economy. We look forward to continuing our work to ensure Arizona will be a national leader in driving America’s energy transition. ◊
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