Swedish Battery Manufacturer Holyvolt has acquired Wildcat Discovery Technologies in a $73 million deal. Wildcat is a US-based battery materials development specialist and proprietor of the High Throughput Platform (HTP). The deal will combine Holyvolt’s sustainable manufacturing processes with Wildcat’s optimised battery material identification system. Holyvolt is confident the aquisition will support the global clean energy transition by lowering production costs, providing supply chain independence and accelerating the transition of battery innovation to pilot-scale production.
Holyvolt’s Sustainable Manufacturing Process
Holyvolt uses screen printing technology to design their batteries with layer by layer construction of the cell’s internal structure. Holyvolt says the greater material and process flexibility of this technology improves cost efficiency and scalability. The efficient, localised design process reduces associated carbon footprints. Furthermore the water based manufacturing process lowers reliance on conventional and less environmentally friendly coatings. The deal combines Holyvolt’s sustainable manufacturing with Wildcat’s optimised material identification HTP.
Mathias Ingvarsson, co-founder and CEO, Holyvolt, is enthusiastic about the acquisition: ‘The acquisition of Wildcat is a perfect complement to our intended strategy of developing new technologies for the battery industry. Holyvolt is focused on developing new processes to make batteries cleaner and more affordable, and Wildcat has been pursuing the same goals via materials development and better chemistry. Combined, we are building what we believe is the most compelling technology to deliver on these objectives.’
Optimizing Battery Material Discovery
Wildcat’s HTP generates terabyte scale structured material datasets primed for the integration of AI into battery material discovery. Wildcat says the technology identifies optimal material systems up to ten times faster than conventional R&D methods. Holyvolt is looking to significantly increase the speed and effectiveness of material development with the acquisition of Wildcat and HTP.
Mark Gresser, President and CEO, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, appears as enthusiastic as Ingvarsson: ‘The Wildcat team is thrilled with this acquisition by Holyvolt. Mathias and team are very thoughtful with regard to their objectives in the battery industry, and recognise the value that Wildcat’s High Throughput Platform can deliver to our combined company and the industry at large. With Holyvolt’s vision and financial backing, Wildcat can finally unlock the true potential of high throughput combinatorial chemistry for battery materials.’
Commercializing Battery Innovation
The combination of Holyvolt and Wildcat creates a powerful supplier capable of quickly bringing new innovations to market. Holyvolt intends to benefit from the potential for HTP to reduce the bottlenecks that have historically created obstacles to commercialization. Both Holyvolt and Wildcat support the production of clean, affordable energy storage to facilitate the clean energy transition in Europe and North America. The deal has the potential to accelerate commercialization of innovation due to lower production costs, improved scaling and supply chain independence.
Magnus Tyreman, Chairman of Holyvolt, expresses his belief that the acquisition of Wildcat is a significant step in the Holyvolt mission to address critical challenges in global clean energy supply: ‘The West must accelerate the development of next-generation battery technologies to secure long-term energy independence. The acquisition of Wildcat strengthens our ability to advance that mission.’
A Powerful Combination of Companies
The Holyvolt $73 million acquisition of Wildcat Discovery Technologies creates a group with end-to-end capability from molecular discovery to pilot-scale production using HTP. The deal combines break-through technologies in the lab with production, thereby reducing costs, simplifying supply chains and accelerating innovation.
