La Presse (Second try)
Batteries for electric vehicles Silicon could replace graphite
While Quebec is banking on graphite to develop the battery sector, a small Quebec company believes that the future is more in silicon, which will replace graphite in the next generation of electric vehicles.
"It's not me saying it, it's the industry," says Bernard Tourillon, CEO of Resources HPQ Silicium, a small Montreal company that is developing technology to produce the higher-performance battery material that like Tesla dreams of.
"Elon Musk has often said that silicon can produce much more efficient batteries, but that its use remains limited for a matter of cost," he explained in an interview with La Presse.
Resources HPQ has found a way to cost-effectively convert silicon into silicon nanopowders that can be incorporated into the battery anode to improve performance.
Its process called PUREVAP, pending approval, is a technology developed by PyroGenesis Canada, a Montreal-based company that manufactures metal powders and is the main shareholder of Resources HPQ.
Silicon, a mineral mined from quartz, is easy to find anywhere. A factory already manufactures them in Bcancour. Given its potential as a battery material, it should be included in the government's list of critical minerals, according to Bernard Tourillon.
Again this week, in the agreement announced between the Hydro-Quebec Research Institute and California's Berkeley Lab for the development of new battery materials, lithium, graphite and cobalt are mentioned, but not silicon. .
Batteries for electric vehicles Silicon could replace graphite While Quebec is banking on graphite to develop the battery sector, a small Quebec company believes that the future is more in silicon, which will replace graphite in the next generation of electric vehicles. "It's not me saying it, it's the industry," says Bernard Tourillon, CEO of Resources HPQ Silicium, a small Montreal company that is developing technology to produce the higher-performance battery material that Tesla dreams of. of this world. "Elon Musk has often said that silicon can produce much more efficient batteries, but that its use remains limited for a matter of cost," he explained in an interview with La Presse. Resources HPQ has found a way to cost-effectively convert silicon into silicon nanopowders that can be incorporated into the battery anode to improve performance.
Its process called PUREVAP, pending approval, is a technology developed by PyroGenesis Canada, a Montreal-based company that manufactures metal powders and is the main shareholder of Resources HPQ. Silicon, a mineral mined from quartz, is easy to find anywhere. A factory already manufactures them in Bcancour. Given its potential as a battery material, it should be included in the government's list of critical minerals, according to Bernard Tourillon. Again this week, in the agreement announced between the Hydro-Quebec Research Institute and California's Berkeley Lab for the development of new battery materials, lithium, graphite and cobalt are mentioned, but not silicon. .
Batteries for electric vehicles Silicon could replace graphite While Quebec is banking on graphite to develop the battery sector, a small Quebec company believes that the future is more in silicon, which will replace graphite in the next generation of electric vehicles. "It's not me saying it, it's the industry," says Bernard Tourillon, CEO of Resources HPQ Silicium, a small Montreal company that is developing technology to produce the higher-performance battery material that Tesla dreams of. of this world. "Elon Musk has often said that silicon can produce much more efficient batteries, but that its use remains limited for a matter of cost," he explained in an interview with La Presse. Resources HPQ has found a way to cost-effectively convert silicon into silicon nanopowders that can be incorporated into the battery anode to improve performance.
Its process called PUREVAP, pending approval, is a technology developed by PyroGenesis Canada, a Montreal-based company that manufactures metal powders and is the main shareholder of Resources HPQ. Silicon, a mineral mined from quartz, is easy to find anywhere. A factory already manufactures them in Bcancour. Given its potential as a battery material, it should be included in the government's list of critical minerals, according to Bernard Tourillon. Again this week, in the agreement announced between the Hydro-Quebec Research Institute and California's Berkeley Lab for the development of new battery materials, lithium, graphite and cobalt are mentioned, but not silicon. .
LESS INVESTMENT
Unlike the lithium and graphite projects that are trying to develop in Quebec to supply a possible sector from the mine to the manufacture of batteries, the HPQ project does not require huge capital investments, argues its CEO.
“Rather than 300 million and more, we are talking about 20 to 30 million. It could make it possible to arrive more quickly in a market which is in turmoil. "
- Bernard Tourillon, CEO of Resources HPQ
After five years of work, HPQ is on the verge of producing its first kilos of high purity silicon which will be tested by battery manufacturers whose names cannot be disclosed. Its goal is to gradually increase this production and become a low-cost producer that will meet the demand of battery manufacturers and automotive manufacturers who, like Tesla, now want to make their own batteries.
The company, whose shares are listed on the Venture Exchange, does not foresee any difficulty in finding the necessary capital to continue its journey. Resources HPQ's share was worth $ 0.71 on Wednesday. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between $ 0.05 and $ 0.87. Its market capitalization reaches 186 million.