To promote environmentally-friendly, resource-efficient extraction of lithium, the BMW Group has recently announced that it is investing, through its venture capital fund, BMW i Ventures, in an innovative process developed by US startup Lilac Solutions.
Lilac Solutions has developed and patented an ion exchange technology that will significantly improve efficiency, costs and sustainability by extracting lithium from brine resources, which are natural deposits of saltwater.
This initiative will help the BMW Group as it is stepping up its expansion of electromobility and hopes to release about ten million fully electric vehicles in the next ten years. By 2030, at least half the BMW Group’s global sales are expected to come from fully electric vehicles, increasing the need for lithium, an important raw material for the production of battery cells.
According to the BMW Group, Lilac Solutions has developed a new ion exchange technology to make mining lithium from brine resources more efficient and cost-effective. As a result, the company seeks to significantly reduce environmental impact compared to conventional methods while, at the same time, protecting local communities and ecosystems. The technology has already been proven in initial field pilots and must now demonstrate that it can be scaled and industrialised in the mid-term. The process could then be used with brines worldwide, even if they have a low lithium content.
Wolfgang Obermaier, Senior Vice President, Indirect goods and services, raw materials, production partners, BMW Group, said, “Innovative technologies provide better, more sustainable and more efficient access to raw materials. By investing in startups, we are speeding up development of new technologies, stimulating competition and providing impetus that will make it easier for young companies to access the market. By investing in Lilac Solutions, we are supporting technological progress in the field of lithium extraction, with a focus on responsible and sustainable methods.”