FAQ

Our innovation is a brand-new class of battery electrolytes. It is liquid like in conventional Li-ion technology but inorganic. Its proprietary formula delivers unique characteristics that were not possible to be achieved by the predecessor technology. It combines ease of use and cost advantages during manufacturing of battery cells, like existing Li-ion, with non-flammability, high voltage potential and high conductivity, like is promised by Solid State technologies. Our technology combines the best of both conventional Li-ion and Solid State while being ready now and staying cost competitive even with the best of existing battery cells in the market.

That is the technology deserved to have a name of its own. We came up with a new name for technology containing “STATE” as a statement of advanced performance and safety parameters. And “I” stands for “Innolith” and “inorganic” at the same time.

I-STATE is also very much about integration with other leading-edge materials to deliver the most pragmatic and fast paced approach to future innovation (Li-metal, Mn-based cathodes, advanced cathode materials). Also with Silicon inside our electrolyte would add performance vs a conventional Li-ion.

It is already far superior to the conventional Li-ion batteries in all key parameters. Validated by P3, VDE, ZSW and many automotive and battery OEMs plus end-users from other industries.

I-State has high voltage stability beyond 5V vs 4,2-4,3V of conventional Li-ion. Conductivity of I-State electrolyte at room temperature is 4 times higher than of conventional liquid electrolytes with organic solvents.

I-State cells can be discharged at -40°C with >70% and charged at -20°C to >80% of capacity (performance of conventional Li-ion drops dramatically at temperatures below 0°C).

I-State has no flash point. Energy release in case of an accidental thermal runaway is 40-50% less vs conventional Li-ion, thus reducing the risk of fire propagation.

I-State works well Li-metal, Mn-based cathodes and advanced cathode materials.

I-State electrolyte is manufactured on a pilot scale already. The production process is developed and test-proven. We have established a complete supply chain of all the raw materials and partner companies for electrolyte production. Since there are no rare, complex or pricy raw materials in I-State electrolyte, we are planning to achieve a similar cost compare to the conventional Li-ion. I-State enables higher utilization of the available specific capacity of NMC cathodes. For the same cell capacity one would need less cathodes or can get higher capacity while using the same quantity of cathode as in conventional Li-ion.

Our focus is cylindrical 21700 format as the most common battery format to-date (for example, Tesla uses cylindrical cells in their EV cars), easier produced using mass-scale equipment, higher throughput capacity of production lines and more automation, less capital intensive per MWh/GWh. The equipment and full production processes are ready for faster installation and ramp up. We have already produced full cell B-samples and the format is well accepted by variety of partners across multiple e-Mobility industries.

Innolith fully owns all of its IP. And, yes, the patents are registered in all the manufacturing and end-user countries. We have 275 granted and another 110 pending patents worldwide.

I-State technology is safer than conventional Li-ion and as safe as Solid State (what is advertised about SSB). The electrolyte has no flash point. Energy release in case of an accidental thermal runaway is 40-50% less vs conventional Li-ion, thus reducing the risk of fire propagation. I-State is a liquid electrolyte. Same as conventional Li-ion, one has to preserve certain simple safety rules when handling or charging / discharging the cells.

Well, you won’t innovate if you don’t set a high ambition. That said, we are no longer pursuing the direction set during the first years after establishment of the company.
We had some very promising technology concept ideas and preliminary test results when making a bold statement of 1000 Wh/kg. That was prior to evaluating the right tech to use for e-mobility applications. Ultimately, it turned out to be not feasible for automotive standards and a much longer technology to develop and commercialize.
In 2019 we have started with a brand-new approach, have registered new patents and have successfully produced highly competitive full cell 21700 B-samples in December 2021, comfortably delivering 300 Wh/kg (>800 Wh/l) in independent third-party tests.

Our technology roadmap contains development of 21700 cells with Li-Metal in 2023. Energy density of those cells will exceed 400 Wh/kg (>1000 Wh/l). For more details on our innovation roadmap, please refer to the Technology section of this site.

Yes, extensively. We have commission independent valuation and rigorous testing on the widest range of parameters – by P3, VDE, ZSW as well as multiple Automotive and Battery OEMs and end-user companies in other industries.

Sky is the limit for the I-State technology as it is set to be compatible with virtually all material innovations out there. Detailed innovation roadmap can be found in the Technology section of this site.

High voltage electrolyte (4,6-5V) enables development and subsequent production of battery cells with higher capacity using less cathode materials while achieving higher energy density vs conventional Li-ion.

Additionally, high voltage enables use of completely new cathode materials that is absolutely not possible with the organic solvents and voltage limit of 4,2-4,3V.

• Lower cost per kWh – up to 10%,
• Higher energy density – 300 Wh/kg, 800 Wh/l,
• Wider temperature range – charging at -20°C to 60°C and discharging at -40°C to 60°C,
• Fast charge – up to 3C continuous and 7C pulse,
• Sustainable – first fully recyclable electrolyte salt and solvent in addition to the traditional cathode and anode materials,
• Higher safety – lower fire propagation risk due to 40% less energy release in case of thermal runaway

Innolith and SolidState have very similar performance targets as both technologies follow the same path of inventing a new electrolyte that enables the use of Lithium metal in order to achieve the highest energy density while improving cell performance in other parameters as well.

Contrary to Solid State, I-State technology of Innolith is ready for industrialization right now and at lower cost per kWh than conventional Li-ion. I-State does not have manufacturability and raw material supply challenges of Solid State. This advantage is hard to bit even with the most ambitious promises of Solid State technologies.

Most definitely. I-State enables development and subsequent production of battery cells with higher capacity using less cathode materials while achieving higher energy density vs conventional Li-ion. I-State cells can be manufactured using the same equipment and raw materials used for conventional Li-ion, making switching costs negligibly low. A total cost advantage vs conventional Li-ion can be as high as 10% per kWh. Solid State technologies are not competitive with conventional Li-ion at the current stage of their development. There is an industry consensus that Solid State will continue to have cost challenges well after 2030 if it can be achieved at all. 

I-State technology is developed primarily as a high energy cell for e-mobility applications. The main focus of Innolith is EV car manufacturing. Industrial, marine, UAM, aerospace, mining and 2-3 wheelers would be other suitable applications for I-State as well. In general, any industry with higher performance, lower cost & higher safety requirements can benefit from I-State, as we break through the barriers of existing Li-ion battery cells.

Innolith is open to a licensing model negotiations with the first partner companies. The ultimate goal of Innolith is to become a battery cell manufacturer and supply its technology to Auto OEMs and across other industries. Innolith is seeking technology development and industrialization partners in order to speed up commercialization of the newly developed technology.

I-State allows application of many advanced materials not limited to Li-Metal, LFMP and Mn-rich. High voltage stability and exceptional conductivity at various temperatures make I-State an ideal platform to the use of next-generation cathode materials that cannot be even tested with the conventional Li-ion.

I-State is the world first battery cell technology with fully recyclable electrolyte salt and solvent in addition to the traditional cathode and anode materials. 

I-State can be produced using the state-of-the-art battery manufacturing equipment, raw materials and processes. Switching costs for existing manufacturers or construction of a new production site will be cost competitive with the conventional Li-ion. There is only one piece of equipment that is different from the conventional Li-ion production process. It is a filling and closing unit. Innolith has developed this piece of equipment jointly with engineering companies in Europe. The first industrial machine will be ready for pilot scale production by the end of 2022.

Our technology inventors – Dr. Laurent Zinck and Markus Borck – worked over 18 years, starting in 2000, in research and development of inorganic liquid electrolyte technologies. During those years they had worked in the multiple battery start-ups until five years ago they decided to set up their own – and Innolith was born. Laurent and Markus found external investors that shared their vision of the world’s universal e-mobility, enabled by a high energy battery innovation with higher safety and at lower cost. This vision later became our current “E-mobility freedom for all”.

Laurent and Markus worked in ALEVO from the start and until the company filed for bankruptcy in 2017. They were employed to run the R&D team in Germany, reporting to the CTO of ALEVO. Both had never been members of the management team of ALEVO, not to mention that there was no investment or other form of entrepreneurial engagement with the team of businessmen who founded and ran ALEVO.

After Innolith was established and funded by new investors in 2018, Laurent and Markus received financial means to bid amongst other contenders for the assets of failed ALEVO. Innolith made a successful bid for purchase of the IP sold by the bankruptcy administration of ALEVO. As a poison pill with the IP, ALEVO sold to Innolith some old projects in the US and the production site in Switzerland. All of those projects have been closed step by step during 2019-2020. IP portfolio of ALEVO still belongs to Innolith as it consists of the basic background patents of the inorganic liquid electrolyte (future I-State technology developed on its own by Innolith).

ALEVO used to develop a power cell technology suitable mainly for grid frequency regulation. Innolith validated this technology in 2019 after purchasing of the IP and old projects of ALEVO, and arrived to the conclusion that a new invention of Innolith team made on its own in 2018-2019 of electrolyte suitable for energy cell development for e-mobility has a higher commercialization potential due to bigger target applicable market, higher performance and lower cost.

Starting from 2020, Innolith is fully focused on the development of a 21700 energy cell for EVs and other e-mobility applications. Technically, it is a completely different cell – standard industry cylinder using state-of-the art materials and equipment vs old proprietary prismatic cell with thick foam based electrodes. The old ALEVO and newly developed I-State technologies are simply not comparable by performance, cost per kWh, sustainability and safety parameters.

Innolith does not employ any members of the executive management team of ALEVO.

Our newly developed 21700 cell with NMC811/Gr is fully ready for the next stage of industrialization on a pilot-scale and preparation to the mass production on a giga-scale. Currently we are manufacturing full cell samples and distributing them to various interested parties amongst the largest Auto and Battery OEMs as well as to large end-users from other industries (aerospace, marine, industrial, mining, UAM and 2-3 wheelers).

Our technology roadmap contains development of 21700 cells with higher energy density of 320 Wh/kg. This target shall be achieved during June-July 2022.
The next technologies will be based on Graphite and Silicon anode, LMR (Mn-rich) and LFMP cathodes and a Li-Metal. All of those technologies have been tested and proven at the concept stage. We have successfully manufactured world first Li-metal cell in 21700 format with energy density of 400 Wh/kg in December 2021.

For more details on our innovation roadmap, please refer to the Technology section of this site.

Yes, Innolith is constantly hiring. Our team of 80 professionals is keen to recruit new top talents. You are strongly encouraged to check a detailed overview on our open positions on the carer webpage. Your job applications can be sent directly to our HR team using our website tools.

As our company is growing quickly, professionals of all kinds are required – join us now! You are strongly encouraged to check a detailed overview on our open positions on the carer webpage. Your job applications can be sent directly to our HR team using our website tools.

We have a number of open positions, including the ones for internship. Please contact our HR team online by filling in a request form.

It started in 2000 with our technology inventors – Dr. Laurent Zinck and Markus Borck, who had a vision of the world’s universal electric mobility, enabled by a high energy battery innovation. 

After 18 years of researching inorganic liquid electrolyte technologies and working in the multiple battery start-ups, five years ago they have decided to set up their own – and Innolith was born. 

The company has raised several rounds of capital from its existing shareholders. At the moment Innolith has invested in the R&D of its proprietary battery cell technology close to US$ 100 million.

Innolith is a private company with several shareholders, including our technology inventors and some existing and former members of the Board and the management team. The company is planning to implement a Long-Term Incentive Program during summer 2022.

Our major shareholder is a diversified family office with interests and an investment portfolio across various business sectors and innovative start-ups in Europe and United States.

The shareholders are not involved in the day-to-day business activities except of the corporate governance via the Board of Directors and shareholder meetings.

Innolith is planning to raise capital in the 2^nd half of 2022. The main interest is to receive additional financing for the construction of our pilot plant and completion of the R&D roadmap.