Altech's Silicon Solution Breakthrough 2x EVC range

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# Australian Battery Breakthrough: Altech's Silicon Solution Set to Double EV Range

In a breakthrough that could extend electric vehicle driving ranges from 400km to 600km on a single charge, Australian company Altech Batteries Ltd has successfully completed a critical milestone in its revolutionary Silumina Anodes project. This innovation, announced today, addresses what industry experts have called the "silicon barrier" - a challenge that has frustrated battery manufacturers for decades.

## The Silicon Puzzle Finally Solved

"Imagine trying to fit a balloon inside a rigid box, then inflating it," explains Iggy Tan, Altech's Managing Director. "That's essentially what happens when silicon is used in battery anodes - it expands dramatically during charging, destroying the battery structure."

Silicon has long been the holy grail for battery manufacturers, offering approximately 10 times the energy retention capacity of graphite (the current standard for battery anodes). Until now, two seemingly insurmountable challenges prevented its commercial use: silicon particles expand by up to 300% during charging, and they cause significant first-cycle capacity loss.

Altech's elegant solution involves coating silicon particles with alumina, transforming them into perfect spheres, and strategically positioning these spheres within the empty spaces of graphite layers in the battery anode. When the silicon expands during charging, it now has room to grow without damaging surrounding materials.

'We've achieved a battery with 50% higher energy density and enhanced cycle life, all with a modest 5% addition of silicon,' said Tan. 'In practical terms, this means a smartphone that currently lasts one day could potentially operate for a day and a half, or an electric vehicle with a 400km range could travel 600km before needing to recharge.'

## From Laboratory Concept to German Production Line

What separates Altech's announcement from typical laboratory breakthroughs is that the company has already scaled the technology to production. Their pilot plant in Saxony, Germany is now operational and producing high-quality coated silicon particles for evaluation by potential customers.

The journey to production wasn't smooth. The team encountered numerous technical obstacles, including equipment delivery delays and challenges handling ultra-fine silicon powders that behaved more like liquids than solids. Through persistent engineering adjustments and process refinements, they overcame these barriers.

'When dealing with particles measured in nanometers, even the slightest process variation can lead to failure,' Tan noted. 'Our team's persistence in solving these challenges demonstrates why Altech is leading this technological revolution.'

## The Visionary Behind the Breakthrough

Iggy Tan's leadership has been instrumental in bringing this technology to fruition. Twenty years ago, when lithium batteries were still primarily used in small electronics, Tan was already envisioning their potential to transform transportation and energy storage.

As CEO of Galaxy Resources, he built the Mt Cattlin Spodumene Mine and developed the Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Project in China, creating Australia's first integrated mine-to-refinery lithium project. Under his guidance, Galaxy Resources grew from a market capitalisation of less than A$10 million to A$2.5 billion.

'Iggy has a remarkable ability to see around technological corners,' says a former colleague who worked with him at Galaxy. 'He identified the potential of lithium when most mining executives were still focused exclusively on traditional resources.'

This visionary approach is now bearing fruit at Altech, where Tan has assembled a team of engineers and scientists focused on solving the silicon challenge that larger companies had abandoned as too difficult.

## Environmental and Economic Impact

Beyond improving battery performance, Altech's technology offers significant environmental benefits. More efficient batteries mean fewer raw materials required per kilowatt-hour of storage, reducing the mining footprint of battery production. Additionally, longer-lasting batteries translate to less frequent replacement and fewer batteries entering the waste stream.

From an economic perspective, the numbers are compelling. Altech has completed a Definitive Feasibility Study for constructing an 8,000 tpa Silumina Anodes plant in Saxony, Germany, projecting pre-tax NPV10 of $684 million against a capital cost of $112 million. With a projected internal rate of return of 34% and payback period of just 2.4 years, the technology represents not just a scientific breakthrough but a commercially viable one.

## The Race to Commercialisation

With major automotive manufacturers actively seeking better battery technologies to extend electric vehicle ranges, Altech finds itself in a strong position. The company has executed non-disclosure agreements with several German and North American automotive and battery supply chain companies, with initial testing set to begin.

'This isn't just an incremental improvement,' Tan emphasised. 'At 50% higher energy density, our technology represents a step-change in battery performance that could accelerate electric vehicle adoption worldwide.'

For consumers frustrated by the limited range of electric vehicles or the short battery life of mobile devices, Altech's breakthrough offers hope that the next generation of batteries will finally overcome these limitations. And for Australia, it represents an opportunity to move up the value chain in the global battery industry, from simply mining raw materials to developing proprietary, high-value technology.

As the company moves toward full commercialisation, the implications extend beyond Altech itself to the broader transition toward renewable energy and electrified transportation - a transition that may now happen faster than previously thought possible.

www.altechgroup.com