Originally published at EnergyTechReview.com
Wildcat Discovery Technologies, leveraging over 16 years of battery performance optimization experience, is set to disrupt the North American supply chain. It is pivoting its extensive R&D capabilities toward the crucial direction of production and supply by manufacturing advanced cathode materials in the United States.
“In 2016, we developed an improved cathode material, a breakthrough for battery technology that delivers more energy at a lower cost with a cleaner product,” says Mark Gresser, president and CEO. “The next step is to complete our U.S. manufacturing plant and give our customers high-performance alternatives to products from China.”
Since its inception, Wildcat has been dedicated to optimizing battery performance, leading to the development of a groundbreaking disordered rocksalt (DRX) cathode composition.
It is diligently working on the commercial readiness of the new product, scaling up manufacturing to introduce its innovative solution into the U.S. marketplace. This strategic shift is set to enhance efficiency, longevity and sustainability in battery technology.
Driven by the demand for localized supply chains, Wildcat is focusing on manufacturing battery materials that reduce dependence on China and other foreign sources for automakers and other OEMs in industries like stationary power and solidify its role as a leader in advanced battery solutions.
Research-Driven Labs that Ignite Innovation
Founded by renowned life sciences scientist Peter G. Schultz, CEO of Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, Wildcat applies drug discovery techniques to advance battery materials. Central to its approach is their high throughput platform, adapted from the drug discovery technique for parallel experimentation. Applying this high-throughput platform, Wildcat’s R&D serves as a foundation for its growth and continued innovation in battery technology. Its state-of-the-art labs synthesize and test materials concurrently, accelerating the evaluation of thousands of materials.
We follow a rigorous product development process, ensuring our next-generation cathode has undergone eight years of R&D and has passed all necessary gateways, mitigating any product risk to the market
This process enables rapid advancements in battery technology within short timelines. Its high throughput R&D capabilities optimize all battery components—from anodes and cathodes to electrolytes—driving innovation and enhancing battery performance worldwide.
Charged-up with its legacy of R&D and a team of 135 scientists and engineers, Wildcat, has completed 225 collaboration projects to date, enhancing various aspects of battery technology for its clients.
Wildcat shares a long-term partnership with BMW, integrating its R&D expertise directly into the automotive giant’s projects. It works closely with BMW’s scientists and engineers, using its high throughput capabilities. It helps swiftly evaluate a wide array of existing market products with data-driven choices for their cell roadmap. Over the years, Wildcat has assessed dozens of anode materials and 27 different cathode chemistries, aiding their clients in selecting optimal materials for their products.
Through continuous research and years of battery testing, Wildcat has generated extensive data that forms a strong foundation for developing AI models to predict battery performance with exceptional accuracy. This ensures that its clients benefit from the AI-driven advancements in battery technology.
Manufacturing Processes Powered by Advanced R&D
Wildcat aims to be a disruptive force in battery manufacturing, driving innovation with its commitment to excellence. Initially, it plans to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP), to showcase its manufacturing capabilities, and then build on that to offer customers a diverse range of cathode options.
LFP requires no major changes to current battery production methods and is compatible with various anode materials—graphite, silicon or lithium metal. With this product, Wildcat is scaling up its supply chain and production methods and effectively training its workforce in large-scale manufacturing processes.
Focusing on localizing cathode production traditionally dominated by China, Wildcat plans to capitalize on favorable government tax policies and recent tariffs. These factors create a supportive environment for entering and sustaining the market through robust innovation.
Wildcat is partnering with Austin Elements Inc. to recycle LFP batteries for the consistent availability of materials, converting end-of-life batteries into high-quality cathode materials. Austin Elements will process black mass into lithium carbonate and iron phosphate, with validation provided by Wildcat.
This collaboration supports the critical minerals supply of the U.S., aligns with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and ensures IRA-qualified materials, providing a reliable supply of high-quality precursors for Wildcat’s cathode materials production.
An All-Inclusive Approach to Expanding Battery Capabilities
Building on its expertise in small pouch cell manufacturing, Wildcat has advanced its capabilities to meet evolving industry demands. Initially producing single and multi-layer pouch cells with up to 2 amp-hours capacities, it uses a state-of-the-art dry room and automated pouch cell line. Responding to requirements from automotive clients, Wildcat expanded its operations to produce larger pouch cells, scaling up to 20 amp-hour batteries. This growth included investing in a larger dry room and advanced equipment to automate the assembly of these larger cells, effectively addressing the needs of automotive safety testing and prototyping.
Wildcat now has pilot-scale equipment to enhance its materials manufacturing capabilities. It enables the integration and rapid scaling of promising materials to 50-kilogram batches daily for customer sampling and large-scale cell production.
Steering ahead, Wildcat aims to garner customer interest and trust, enabling early sampling of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode. Its LFP cathode has been tested by customers since late 2023, targeting applications where robustness and reliability are paramount. Its manganese-rich LMFP variant, designed for enhanced performance, is slated for commercial readiness within the next year. Wildcat is in the process of building a plant in the U.S. to manufacture LFP, which will open in 2026 with a 15,000-ton capacity, doubling to 30,000 tons by 2028.
Notably, Wildcat is advancing DRX, marking a breakthrough in battery tech. Progress by expert scientists and engineers is driving DRX toward commercial readiness, showcasing Wildcat’s dedication to innovative solutions for varied industry energy storage demands.
“We follow a rigorous product development process, ensuring our next-generation cathode has undergone eight years of R&D and has passed all necessary gateways, mitigating any product risk to the market,” says Jim Voeffray, senior vice president of business development.
Driven by a clear vision and a robust strategy for large-scale manufacturing of advanced cathode materials, Wildcat Discovery Technologies stands at the forefront of battery technology innovation, ensuring a resilient and sustainable battery supply chain.
About Wildcat Discovery Technologies
Wildcat’s mission is to produce high-performance U.S.-made cathodes to enable widespread adoption of clean energy. Founded in 2006, the company plans to manufacture a portfolio of nickel- and cobalt-free cathode materials at a plant it builds in the United States. Customers will have access to LFP, LMFP, and DRX materials produced at the plant. At the same time, Wildcat will continue to leverage its 15 years of materials development to help customers achieve the best integrated battery cell.
Wildcat’s vision is to be the first choice for battery materials development, integration, and supply. In addition to production, the company’s unique high throughput platform enables comprehensive materials experiments to be done 10 times faster than conventional methods. In collaboration with 80 companies, Wildcat has optimized solutions for battery components in 225 projects and 400,000 experiments spanning multiple industries. Wildcat was named one of the “50 Most Innovative Companies” by Technology Review magazine. For additional information, follow us on LinkedIn.
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