General Motors (GM) has entered into an agreement with Vianode, an advanced battery materials company, to secure a long-term supply of high-performance anode graphite for its EV battery production.

The “USD multi-billion agreement”, which extends through 2033, aims to strengthen the North American battery and EV supply chain.

The synthetic anode graphite produced by Vianode will be used by Ultium Cells LLC, GM’s joint venture with LG Energy Solution, for the production of next-generation EV batteries and drive units.

The material will be shipped from Vianode’s IRA-compliant plant in North America, with production slated to begin in 2027.

The agreement also includes a minimum off-take commitment.

The agreement follows a multi-year qualification process, demonstrating that the anode graphite produced at Vianode’s pilot plant in Norway meets “stringent performance and validation requirements.”

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Vianode CEO Burkhard Straube said: “Vianode’s advanced battery materials enable cost-efficient batteries and EVs with better performances and a fraction of the carbon emissions of conventional technologies.

“Our recent creation of Vianode North America and this agreement to supply GM’s North American EV business, are key building blocks for a local, resilient supply chain for critical battery materials outside of Asia.”

Synthetic graphite, which is different from the naturally occurring variant, is produced through high-temperature processes and has the capacity to enhance the battery performance.

Vianode, which operates a pilot plant in Norway and a new full-scale facility in Herøya, plans to scale up production in North America and Europe.

The company aims to supply materials for up to three million EVs annually by 2030 through a multi-billion-pound investment programme.

General Motors global purchasing and supply chain senior vice-president Jeff Morrison said: “This agreement with Vianode for the development of artificial graphite is another great example of GM’s strategic effort to build a sustainable battery supply chain in North America.

“This project will help advance our battery technology and drive greater value to our customers.”