E3 Lithium has joined a Canadian-Korean consortium to develop a made-in-Canada lithium-manganese rich (LMR) cathode for next-generation EV batteries.

The Alberta-based lithium brine developer said on November 3 it had signed up to a research agreement with partners including the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Posco America — a subsidiary of South Korean battery manufacturer Posco — under which E3 will be the exclusive lithium carbonate provider.

E3, which is receiving C$98,798 ($70,000) in funding from the NRC’s critical battery materials initiative for the project, will produce chemical precursors with Canadian mining firm Manganese X Energy and processing tech company NiVolt Technologies.

NRC will carry out downstream synthesis into cathode material and testing in coin cells, while Posco will provide industrial validation of CAM material.

E3 said last month it was nearing completion of a facility in Alberta aimed at proving the commercial viability of direct lithium extraction technology. The facility converts oilfield brine into battery-grade lithium carbonate at demonstration scale before the construction of a commercial facility.

Chris Doornbos, president and CEO of E3, said: “LMR batteries offer increased energy density and safety with significant cost savings, with LG, Ford, and GM currently pursuing this cathode as an option. We are excited to be working on the next-gen batteries with the NRC.”

Batteries International reported last June that Posco subsidiary Posco Future M had broken ground for an LFP cathode materials plant in South Korea targeting the ESS and EV batteries market.

CNP New Material Technology, backed by Posco, secondary batteries firm Pino and battery materials producer CNGR, expect to start production of the facility in 2027.

Meanwhile, Ontario launched a C$500 million critical minerals processing fund earlier this year to support investment in projects in the province including EV and battery manufacturing.