NEW ORLEANS – Executives from Advano, a New Orleans-based battery technology company, hosted a Jan. 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new specialty pilot plant in New Orleans East.
Advano CEO Chris York was joined at the event by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, GNO Inc. CEO Michael Hecht and other local political and business leaders.
An Advano spokesperson said the new manufacturing location enables it to deliver ton-scale volumes of its proprietary technology and enter electric vehicle qualification programs in 2024. The company makes “drop-in technologies that provide cost-effective, high-performing solutions for current lithium-ion batteries across various sectors, including electric vehicles, consumer electronics and defense.”
“The key challenge in today’s batteries is safe energy density enhancement,” said York. “At Advano, our proprietary silicon technologies tackle this challenge by providing cost-effective, regionally produced solutions to boost energy density in next generation batteries. The integration of our critical materials enhances EV consumers’ ability to qualify for substantial tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. This enables a clear path for cost-effective transitioning to EVs and assisting consumer choice to address climate change.”
Advano said the specialty pilot plant features commercial-grade equipment that will demonstrate processing scalability and accelerate the production of silicon anode materials to be used in lithium-ion batteries. At a larger scale, Advano plans to establish a reliable and sustainable domestic supply chain for battery materials.
The facility is located in the New Orleans Regional Business Park, which provides access to six Class I railroads, major highways, and the New Orleans International Airport.