Gelion announced that it has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Ionblox Incorporated (Ionblox). The JDA aims to deliver safe, high-energy density, lower cost lithium silicon sulfur (LiSiS) cells for the global electric vehicle (EV), electrical vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) and drone markets, before progressing to the stationary energy storage market. The EV and eVTOL industries are seeking highly competitive next-generation battery technologies to underpin the transition to net-zero emissions, illustrated by the International Energy Agency estimating approximately 300 million EVs will be required by 2030, compared with 10 million EVs in 2022.

Battery powered eVOTLs, drones and stationary energy storage will additionally support the renewables revolution. By combining its technology development with the broad IP and know-how it acquired from Johnson Matthey earlier in 2023 (the IP Portfolio), and the recently announced acquisition of OXLiD Ltd, a UK based lithium-sulfur innovator (the Acquisition), Gelion has accelerated to a leading position in lithium sulfur development. Gelion is developing sulfur cathodes to integrate with a variety of anodes including silicon and silicon oxide (SiOx), lithium metal and graphite.

Ionblox is a leading silicon oxide anode developer with multiple performance attributes - fast charging, high energy, high power, and long life at low cost. Ionblox's investors include Lilium, Applied Ventures, Temasek and Catalus Capital. Gelion and Ionblox will jointly aim to develop high performance, next-generation LiSiS cells, which have the potential to deliver a number of advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries: Up to double the gravimetric energy density 400 Wh/Kg, enabling increased range between charges in EVs, therefore reducing "range anxiety"; Lighter weight batteries reducing the cost of manufacture for an EV for key components such as suspension, braking and tyres; Radical improvement of battery safety, due to the intrinsic reduction in thermal events achieved by the silicon-sulfur chemistry, dramatically reducing risk of fires and/or explosion; Significant reduction of the LiSiS cell 'bill of material costs' by up to an estimated 35% thereby further reducing EV costs to better facilitate mass market take-up; and Reduction of the carbon lifecycle of LiSiS cells by more than 30% as compared to incumbent technologies, delivering a more sustainable mass production of LiSiS batteries for EVs.

Each of Gelion and Ionblox will leverage their technology expertise, patent portfolio protection and leading R&D facilities located in Australia and the US respectively to develop the next-generation LiSiS cells. Gelion will focus on the optimization of the sulfur cathode by incorporating the Acquisition and leveraging the IP Portfolio. Ionblox will provide its best in class, proven, high-energy density pre-lithiated Silicon Oxide anode and optimize it appropriately for use with Gelion's sulfur cathode.

Both organizations will jointly develop and optimize a proprietary electrolyte to enable the cycle life characteristics required for EV and electric aviation applications. Upon completion of the LiSiS cell development, Gelion and Ionblox will finalize their commercial arrangement to take the cells to the global market.