Supermaterials trailblazer Lyten will invest over $1 billion to build the world’s first lithium-sulfur battery gigafactory in Reno, Nevada.
The new factory will be capable of producing up to 10 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries annually once it’s fully online. Phase 1 (rendering pictured above) is set to go live in 2027.
The new gigafactory will produce both cathode active materials and lithium metal anodes, and it will assemble battery cells in cylindrical and pouch formats. Lyten has already been working on this technology at its pilot facility in San Jose, California, which has been online since May 2023.
The Reno factory is part of Lyten’s plan to support its entry into the micromobility, space, drone, and defense markets starting in 2024 and 2025. The company says it already has a robust pipeline of potential customers, and it sees this new gigafactory as a crucial step toward meeting growing demand.
Lyten’s gigafactory will cover 1.25 million square feet on a 125-acre campus in the Reno AirLogistics Park. Initially, it will employ around 200 people, eventually expanding to more than 1,000 jobs. These positions will include roles for researchers, engineers, technicians, and more. The company plans to break ground in early 2025.
Lyten is also working closely with the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR), Truckee Meadows Community College, and Nevada Native American and Tribal members to develop a workforce pipeline. The goal is to create local jobs and train a talented workforce that can support the factory’s advanced manufacturing needs.
Community leaders are rightfully excited about the project. UNR President Brian Sandoval noted that Lyten’s technology plays a key role in northern Nevada’s growing lithium economy. Local officials and educational leaders expressed their enthusiasm, highlighting the benefits to the community, workforce partnerships, and economic development.
In February 2024, Chrysler announced the inclusion of Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries in its Halcyon concept EV. In May, Lyten shipped lithium-sulfur batteries to Stellantis and other US and EU OEMs for testing. Lyten has received more than $425 million in investment from companies including Stellantis, and the US Department of Energy granted Lyten $4 million to accelerate development.
Lyten’s CEO, Dan Cook, called the Nevada gigafactory a significant milestone for the company, describing lithium-sulfur as a “leap in battery technology.” Lithium-sulfur batteries are up to 40% lighter than lithium-ion batteries and use materials that are more abundant in the US, unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on imported minerals like nickel, cobalt, and graphite. However, they still have challenges to address, such as a shorter lifespan and less stability than lithium-ion batteries, before they go mainstream.
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It’s official: Chrysler will finally launch an electric Pacifica minivan. The company is developing clever storage ideas that could make it even more functional than Volkswagen’s recently introduced ID.Buzz. But you’ll have to wait a little longer to get your hands on one.
Chrysler confirms plans to launch an electric Pacifica
Chrysler has yet to release its first fully electric vehicle. Although the nearly 100-year-old automaker has teased several EV concepts, we have yet to see one come to fruition. That will change soon.
Earlier this year, the company revealed its Halcyon Concept, a futuristic sports car-like EV drastically different from Chrysler vehicles currently on the road. The model builds on previous concepts, like the Airflow crossover introduced in 2022.
Chrysler’s CEO, Christine Feuell, said the Halycon would be brought to life with advanced new tech from parent company Stellantis, sleek new styling, and a software-defined connected cockpit.
The radical design will be used in future Chrysler vehicles, including the electric Pacifica. At the LA Auto Show this week, Feuell confirmed to GreenCarReports that the Pacifica is due for an overhaul in 2026. The refresh will lay the groundwork for the first electric Pacifica, which is expected to launch the following year.
Chrysler’s CEO hinted the upcoming Pacifica EV could challenge Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz, the first electric minivan to arrive in the US.
While you’ll need to remove the seats for that open-air space in the ID.Buzz, Chrysler is working on more functional solutions. According to Feuell, the company is developing a system like its patented Stow ‘N Go Seating to open up space in the rear.
Although nothing is set in stone, one option is adjustable front seats, enabling the second row to be stored underneath.
Electrek’s Take
As Chrysler’s only production model in 2024, it only makes sense to launch an electric Pacifica. The Pacifica hybrid was the fourth best-selling plug-in hybrid in the US in Q3. It also accounted for 14% (3,009) of the 21,504 Pacifica models sold last quarter.
Meanwhile, the company is quickly losing market share in the US. Pacifica sales crashed 44% in Q3 and are down 18% through September.
Several new larger electric SUVs, like the Kia EV9, are already hitting the market, and more are on the way, including the recently unveiled Hyundai IONIQ 9. With the electric Pacifica not due out until 2027 (at the earliest), Chrysler will likely continue losing ground as new, more advanced competitors roll out.
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Tesla has converted an entire Shell gas station into a Supercharger station for electric vehicles in Spain, and it looks fantastic.
One of the favorite arguments of electric vehicle naysayers is that there are not as many charging stations as gas stations – making EVs less convenient.
The argument is flawed since most EVs are charged overnight when parked, and they can be charged literally anywhere there’s an electric outlet, which is not the case with gas-powered vehicles.
Most of the time, charging electric vehicles is more convenient than refueling a gas-powered car, and that’s going to become more widespread as time goes on because there are more charging stations being deployed, and many gas stations are going away.
In some cases, EV charging stations are directly replacing some.
Today, we get to see a beautiful example in Cordoba, Spain, where Tesla took over a Shell gas station and converted it into (hat tip to Aland≡Bru on X):
While it is not completed, it’s particularly interesting to see that Tesla has kept a similar design to the classic gas station setup.
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