LFP Powder That Cost 40 Percent Less? Electroflow Says Its Possible - CleanTechnica

Electroflow Technologies, based in San Bruno, California, has developed a proprietary process to extract battery-grade lithium from brine in just three steps, significantly simplifying the traditional ten-step method. This innovation aims to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) powder at a cost up to 40% lower than current Chinese suppliers, who dominate the market. The company’s co-founders, Eric McShane and Evan Gardner, believe their technology can reduce LFP powder production costs from around $4,000 per metric ton to potentially less than $2,500, while establishing a domestic supply chain independent of Chinese processing and refining. The Electroflow process uses an electrochemical cell with anodes that absorb lithium ions from brine and then release them into water containing carbonates, producing lithium carbonate ready for conversion into LFP powder. This system runs entirely on electricity, with low power consumption comparable to that of an average U.S. household for producing 50 metric tons annually. Additionally, the process rec