Battery technology developer Lyten plans to invest more than $1bn to build its first gigafactory in the US, where it will produce on a commercial scale its lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries that can be used in electric vehicles (EVs).
The California company intends to manufacture cathode active material (CAM) and lithium metal anodes at the facility, while also completing assembly of its Li-S battery cells in both cylindrical and pouch formats there, it said today. Lyten has targeted 2027 for when phase one operations will commence, with construction beginning in early 2025.
Lyten estimates that the facility will be able to produce up to 10 gigawatt hours (GWh)/yr at full capacity, but the company did not provide a timeline for when that would be achieved.
The proposed factory is expected to encompass 1.25mn ft2 and be located outside Reno, Nevada. Lyten anticipates hiring 200 employees initially before growing its workforce to 1,000 as the facility reaches peak production.
Lyten in May shipped its first Li-S batteries to automaker Stellantis — one of its investors — and other EV manufacturers for testing from its pilot plant in San Jose, California. The company also delivered its first 6.5Ah pouch cells to a major consumer electronics firm, while targeting first shipments of its cylindrical cells in the second and third quarters of this year.
The company touts its Li-S batteries can carry more energy density than nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries but at costs more competitive with lithium-iron-phosphorous (LFP) batteries.
