Draslovka a.s.’s U.S.-based subsidiary, COVORO MINING SOLUTIONS LLC (Covoro), has agreed to acquire the intellectual property portfolio for Prussian Blue Analogue and Prussian White Analogue sodium-ion battery technology originally developed by Natron Energy. The agreement covers intellectual property and intangible assets only. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States cleared the transaction as a condition of closing.
The portfolio spans active-material synthesis, electrodes, electrolytes, cell design, manufacturing and complete battery systems. It includes issued and pending patents, trademarks and manufacturing know-how, with protection extending into the mid-2040s. Covoro will hold the acquired intellectual property in the United States following completion of the transaction.
Draslovka plans to combine the portfolio with its existing sodium cyanide and ferrocyanide operations and its European cathode-material capabilities. Europe’s first industrial-scale Prussian White Analogue production line is starting up at Draslovka’s site in Kolín, Czech Republic, in partnership with Swedish sodium-ion developer Altris, in which Draslovka is a strategic shareholder. Altris is also collaborating with Clarios on serial production of low-voltage sodium-ion systems.
According to Draslovka, Prussian Blue and Prussian White Analogue batteries are intended for applications requiring safety, high power, long cycle life and operation across a wide temperature range. Target markets include data centers, grid storage and services, defense, industrial fleets, telecommunications, rail and aviation. The company said the batteries can charge and discharge in seconds and withstand tens of thousands of cycles.
The materials use sodium, iron and manganese and do not require lithium, cobalt, nickel or graphite. Draslovka said production can use equipment compatible with existing lithium-ion lines. With cathode-material production coming online in Europe, the group identified cell and system manufacturing as the remaining step for scaling. It plans to pursue materials supply, technology licensing and co-located manufacturing with selected partners in Europe and the United States.
Source: businesswire.com
