EnergySource Minerals (ESM), a California-based company, has secured a significant lithium supply contract with Ford Motor Company. The agreement entails the provision of sustainably sourced lithium hydroxide from ESM's Project ATLiS site located in Imperial Valley, California. This groundbreaking project involves extracting lithium from a geothermal brine resource.
Project ATLiS, situated in California's Salton Sea region, is anticipated to yield approximately 20,000 metric tons of lithium annually. This output will quadruple the existing domestic lithium supply in the United States, providing enough material to manufacture around 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs) for the auto industry each year.
A key component of ESM's Project ATLiS is the innovative ILiAD platform. This patented technology enables the efficient processing of lithium from lithium-bearing brine resources, including the geothermal brine resource found in the Salton Sea Geothermal Resource Area. By utilizing the ILiAD platform, ATLiS can connect to an operational geothermal power facility and extract lithium from the brine after it has been utilized for geothermal power generation.
The ILiAD technology boasts several advantages over alternative approaches. It significantly reduces water usage, eliminates the need for reagents, demonstrates a substantially longer operational lifespan, and achieves higher rates of lithium recovery compared to previous methods.
Extensive pilot operations have demonstrated that the ILiAD platform can be widely employed on lithium brine resources worldwide. Its application at Project ATLiS will serve as a testament to the commercial viability of this state-of-the-art technology on a large scale.
Eric Spomer, CEO of EnergySource Minerals, expressed his enthusiasm about the contract with Ford Motor Company, stating, “We are delighted to announce this contract with Ford Motor Company. The domestic supply chain for EVs in the United States is taking shape, literally from the ground up. Ford is embracing a domestic, sustainable standard for EV manufacturing, and we are proud to play a part in building America's clean energy supply chain.”
Lisa Drake, Ford's vice president of EV Industrialization, Model e, added, “We are collaborating with promising companies such as ESM to bolster our ability to scale EV production and make EVs more accessible for customers over time. The partnership with ESM is crucial to expanding our access to essential minerals like lithium, which are vital for Ford's EV growth.”
The agreement between ESM and Ford Motor Company signifies a significant step towards establishing a robust domestic supply chain for EVs in the United States. By prioritizing sustainability and domestic sourcing, Ford is demonstrating its commitment to cleaner energy and making electric vehicles more readily available to consumers.
