Group1

Group1 today is pleased to announce it has signed a technology license agreement with Sharp Corporation for alkali ions battery technology. This agreement grants Group1 exclusive rights to Sharp's patent portfolio related to #Potassium-based cathode materials, enabling the next generation of sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective #batteries. Potassium Prussian White (KPW), a focus of Group1 and part of the licensed portfolio, is a 4V cathode material and stands out for being free of critical minerals such as Lithium, Cobalt, and Nickel, enabling #sustainable Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs). This substantial advantage over traditional Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) mitigates dependence on critical minerals, addressing supply chain risks and environmental concerns. Nearly all the precursor materials required for KPW production can be sourced within North America. This strategic advantage establishes a domestic supply chain, reinforcing American #energysecurity and presenting a transformative opportunity for American energy storage leadership. Moreover, KPW is compatible with commercial #graphite anodes and organic electrolytes, allowing for seamless integration into existing LIB manufacturing processes. This practical and economical solution addresses the increasing demands of LIB manufacturing while offering comparable energy density and safety to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) based LIBs. This agreement with Sharp advances Group1's IP leadership. It expands on their existing license agreement with The University of Texas at Austin for KIB technology developed in the labs of 2019 Chemistry Nobel laureate Prof. JB Goodenough. This combination solidifies Group1's position as the global leader in KIB technology. "We are extremely pleased to announce that Group1 has secured a leading portfolio of key intellectual properties related to KIB materials technology to develop high-performing, safe, and sustainable alternatives to LIBs. We strongly believe that the combination of licensed technology and internally developed IP on all aspects of KIB technology enables Group1 to bring KIB technology to our customers to be used as a "drop-in" at existing LIB manufacturing," said Dr. Yakov Kutsovsky, Executive Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Group1.  #bateries #potassium #beyondlithium #materials #criticalminerals #technology #USA #domesticsuppply https://lnkd.in/g5xhDXmT

At Group1, we pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of battery innovation. Our secret weapon is not our technological roots but our people. In addition to a culture of excellence, we strive for efficiency and practical solutions to the world's most significant problems. Our mission is not only to bring better battery solutions but to leave the world better than how we found it. Leigang Xue Yakov Kutsovsky Michael Bartholomeusz Hailong Lyu Wentao S. #potassium #criticalminerals #innovation #batteries #materials #AI #materialinformatics

Thank you, Tina Casey, for your write-up on Group1 and #Potassium-ion batteries in CleanTechnica. Decarbonization is a critical driving factor of Group1. Texas may be home to big oil but is the world's energy capital. The oil industry in Texas is a necessary participant in the global energy transition and is still needed for many of our daily products. However, embracing the various energy generation and storage needs is crucial in addressing a future of growing energy needs. Potassium-ion batteries fill a missing gap in the global energy transition ... the only credible alternative to LFP-LIBS. This has been a very worthy battle, albeit an uphill one. It is worth staying in the fight. The stakes are high— our future generation. Thank you, Discovery to Impact, for your investment and support of Group1. We have the privilege of stewarding the last (and arguably) most impactful innovation from Nobel laureate and (LIB co-inventor) Professor JB Goodenough's laboratory, the genesis of LFP and also KPW (discovered by Group1 Co-Founder Leigang Xue). Big things start from humble beginnings—there are many more steps to take. But momentum is building! #energy #battery #materials #innovation #texas #potassium

Group1 is pleased to announce the distribution of the world's first KIB in 18650 format. AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Group1, a leader in advanced battery technology, proudly announces the release of the world's first Potassium-ion battery (KIB) in the cylindrical 18650 form factor. Group1's KIB technology offers a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective solution, free from critical minerals like nickel, cobalt, copper, and lithium. It seamlessly integrates into existing LIB processes, ensuring a smooth transition for manufacturers. As part of this launch, Group1 is delivering samples to key Tier 1 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and cell manufacturers, marking a significant milestone in energy storage. This new KIB battery was unveiled at the 14th annual Beyond Lithium Conference at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. At the conference, Group1 highlighted the product's path from coin-cell to pouch-cell to 18650, showcasing the unique attributes and competitive advantages of KIB. This drew interest from national laboratory scientists and prominent thought leaders in the battery space. Leveraging Kristonite™, Group1's flagship product, a uniquely engineered 4V cathode material in the Potassium Prussian White (KPW) class, this battery enables the best combination of performance, safety, and cost when compared to LiFePO4 (LFP)-based LIBs and Sodium-ion batteries (NIBs). "We are excited to introduce the world's first 18650 Potassium-ion battery," said Alexander Girau, CEO of Group1. "This innovation represents years of dedicated research and product development. By distributing samples to our partners among Tier 1 OEMs and cell manufacturers, we are paving the way for widespread adoption of this transformative technology." The 18650 form factor is the most widely used and designed cell formats. These new 18650 batteries use commercial graphite anodes, separators, and electrolyte formulations comprised of commercially sourced components. They offer superior cycle life and excellent discharge capability, and they operate at 3.7V. The product release exceeds initial performance expectations and demonstrates a practical path to achieve a gravimetric energy density of 160-180Wh/kg, which is standard for LFP-LIB. KIB is a viable alternative to LFP-LIB for demanding mobility applications. It also helps reduce supply-chain pressures and supports domestic manufacturing of critical battery technology. **About Group1** Founded in 2021 and based in Austin, TX, Group1 is at the forefront of Potassium-ion battery technology. Building on the legacy of Nobel laureate Professor JB Goodenough, Group1 focuses on creating sustainable, high-performance energy storage solutions. Our mission is to revolutionize the battery industry by enabling the next generation of safe, efficient, and eco-friendly batteries. #battery #potassium #criticalminerals #innovation https://lnkd.in/g7n9WEsm

This is why Group1 was founded. By focusing on potassium-ion batteries, we're driving innovation to keep the U.S. relevant. The U.S. missed a critical opportunity in the battery revolution due to several key reasons: -The U.S. government and media didn't fully anticipate the transformative potential of batteries, unlike other technologies. Our economy rewards short-term thinking. - China invested with intention and foresight. They now dominate battery manufacturing, leveraging supply chain investment and innovation to take the lead. -Political and industrial opposition, especially from the oil industry, slowed down U.S. progress. Two battery technologies were invented in the Goodenough lab at The University of Texas at Austin but exported to China based on short-sighted economic decisions -- LFP cathode (enabled LIB) and Sodium Prussian White cathode (kicked off Sodium-ion battery in China). Now, the U.S. has seller's remorse. Potassium-ion batteries are our third shot at domestic resilience. With cathode technology (Potassium Prussian White) originally invented at UT-Austin, this has not been exported and leverages nearly all of the existing LIB supply chain. We at Group1 are bringing this critical technology to market for our and future generations' benefit. #Innovation #Technology #Batteries #Potassium #Resilence https://lnkd.in/g7-6urcK

Group1 and Potassium had a great showing at the 14th annual Beyond Lithium Conference at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. We are pleased to provide a status update on the progress of KIB technology, with the product release of the world's first KIB in 18650 form factor. Giving presentations from Group1 were CEO and Co-Founder Alexander Girau, titled "𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱1" and also CPO and Co-Founder, Leigang Xue titled "𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 3.7 𝘝 𝘒-𝘐𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 18650𝘴". In addition, Group1 CSO and Co-Founder Yakov Kutsovsky participated in a panel discussion led by IBM's Young-Hye Na titled "𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘐/𝘔𝘓 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩?". Using the G1 SMART Platform as an example, Yakov emphasized the importance of a data-first approach to building AI/ML capabilities, starting with high-quality data and a ground-up approach. In addition to the strong showing of Group1, we also had strong representation from The University of Texas at Austin by Professor Arumugam Manthiram, a close company friend and battery pioneer. The pedigree of Professor Goodenough and UT-Austin runs deep at Group1. "What starts here changes the world." It was also good seeing our Pacific Northwest National Laboratory friends - Xia Cao, David Reed, Xiaolin Li. Thank you for your kind invitation, and we look forward to continuing to work together! Our latest batch of 18650s have impressive cycle stability and exceptional discharge capability. We are now delivering sample cells to key Tier 1 OEMs and cell manufacturers that serve the mobility sector. We continue improving our cells' quality by engineering our cathode active material (Kristonite™), electrode formulation, engineering electrolyte, and cell design. We are well on our path to energy density that exceeds 160-180Wh/kg. Bandwidth is limited. If you are interested in data on Group1's KIB 18650 or are an OEM needing a critical mineral-free, lithium-alternative with a world-leading combination of performance, safety, and sustainability/cost -- please reach out. It takes a community to change the world in a massive way. Customers, investors, partners, interns...all the above. We have the privilege but also the responsibility to use our collective talents to change the world. The team Group1 will keep pushing! #batteries #beyondlithium #potassium #energy #materials #innovation #criticalminerals

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are now being made in China. This is good market validation but also a reminder that speed matters. Colleagues report that in China material manufacturers are shipping 25-50KG batches of Potassium Prussian White (KPW) cathode material to cell manufacturers for cell validation. These large-format cells are already hitting 151Wh/kg, with more room to go. The reason: -They have higher energy density than sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) and are comparable to LFP-LIBs -Compatible with already industrialized graphite anode -Promise lower cost than NIB and the already low LFP-LIB -Superior low-temp operation and charge rate than LFP-LIB Big things come from small beginnings. We started Group1 to ensure that the KIB opportunity was not exported and lost to China, as happened to the LFP cathode. We eschewed initial grant opportunities from the start due to their slowing effect on startups' commercialization timelines, and opted for private capital. This made Group1 a contrarian bet from the beginning, but the tide is turning, as predicted. As a country, we have not exported KIB technology. We still have the opportunity to pursue this drop-in solution on an accelerated timeline. Compared to NIBs and LIBs, KIBs offer the best combination of performance, sustainability, and low cost. The Chinese have realized this; I hope we will also. We will keep pushing and evangelizing the future of KIBs. #energy #batteries #criticalminerals #potassium #beyondlithium

Group1 is three years old today. Happy Birthday!

#ICYMI: check out this month's Volta Foundation newsletter covering the latest news, career opportunities, industry milestones, and events! Key highlights: 💡Industry thought leadership from Monolith, Fruition IT, TESCAN , ACCURE Battery Intelligence, and TWAICE 🎉 Milestones from Byterat, Ascend Elements, Group1, Impossible Metals Inc., Iontra Inc, SES AI Corp, Sepion Technologies and Re:Build Manufacturing 🔥 Career opportunities from AESC US, American Battery Solutions Inc. and Factorial Energy 📅 Industry events from PlugVolt, The Battery Show, TA Instruments, Honeywell, IKA – Laboratory, Analytical and Process Technology, Battery Forum (Volta Foundation) and Battery Pub (Volta Foundation) And lastly, a welcome 👋 to our newest member companies: ZIMT Battery Separator, BASQUEVOLT, Mintz, Forge Nano, Inc. and JEOL Ltd. Read the latest here: https://lnkd.in/gdKHSuCk #VoltaFoundation #batterynews #batteryevents #batteryinsights #newsletter #batterycareers #batteryindustry #thisweekinbatteries

One major step forward for resilience... We are pleased to welcome Michael Bartholomeusz to the board of Group1! As we push the boundaries of energy storage, enabling critical-mineral-free potassium-ion batteries, Michael's addition comes at a pivotal time as we embark on the next chapter of growth on the Group1 journey. Please join us in welcoming Michael! #resilence #batteries #criticalminerals #innovation #startups #potassium --------------- GROUP1 APPOINTS TECHNOLOGY EXPERT DR. MICHAEL BARTHOLOMEUSZ AS INDEPENDENT BOARD DIRECTOR AUSTIN, Texas, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Group1, the world's first battery technology and materials company to commercialize potassium-ion batteries, is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Michael Bartholomeusz to its Board of Directors. Dr. Bartholomeusz's extensive experience and success in guiding technology companies through periods of accelerated growth make him a strong addition to Group1 as we continue to lead and redefine the battery sector and transition into the next phase of product introduction and growth. "Michael's proven track record in driving technology companies to achieve exceptional growth and his experience in the battery sector align perfectly with our bold strategic goals," said Alexander Girau, Co-Founder and CEO of Group1. "His strategic leadership and impressive history of supporting companies through critical transitions and market expansions will be crucial as we continue to innovate and define the potassium-ion battery space." Dr. Bartholomeusz brings a wealth of experience as a private and public company board director, and global CEO and executive. He has led companies in multiple industries including advanced materials, electronics, renewables, and battery technology; and has successfully managed corporate funding, acquisitions, joint ventures and sales in regions including the U.S., Europe, China and greater Asia. Dr. Bartholomeusz observed that "the battery industry today is reliant on materials that are relatively scarce or originate from regions that suffer instability or presiding geopolitical complexity. Group1's pioneering work and deep intellectual property on the potassium-ion battery system has the potential to address many of these challenges and provide a long-term sustainable energy storage solution based on abundantly available materials. Alex is an experienced and visionary CEO with the ability to transform this aspiration into reality. I am looking forward to supporting him and the experienced and talented team of professionals at Group1." For additional information about Group1 and this significant appointment, please visit www.group1.ai.