Company investing $46 million in Illinois operations as it moves from R&D to commercialization
CHICAGO —Pure Lithium Corporation will relocate its entire operation from Boston to Chicago as it prepares to commercialize its cutting-edge battery technology. Attracted by Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Intersect Illinois, and supported by the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV Illinois) program, Pure Lithium will invest $46 million in its Illinois operation to manufacture the state’s first commercially viable lithium metal battery.
“Illinois offers the complete package for clean energy manufacturers looking to scale up in the long term, including access to a highly skilled workforce and renowned research institutions such as Argonne, as well as competitive tax credit offerings,” said Intersect Illinois President and CEO Christy George. “Intersect was pleased to play a role in showcasing Illinois’ advantages and helping to attract Pure Lithium to its new home in Chicago.”
Focused on drone and defense, consumer electronics, grid-scale energy storage systems, and electric vehicle markets, the company adds to Illinois’ tremendous clean energy manufacturing ecosystem, which includes Rivian, Invenergy, and LanzaTech.
“I am excited to welcome the team at Pure Lithium to our state, where they’ll be an excellent addition to the business landscape and burgeoning clean energy ecosystem,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Their investment will not only create jobs and economic opportunity for our people but help power the green revolution right here in Illinois.”
After completing its initial R&D or “start-up” phase in Boston, the company will relocate to Illinois and expand to include production and manufacturing. Pure Lithium is expected to open its new facility in Chicago’s highly desirable Fulton Market district later this year.
“Our new facility in Chicago aligns with the company’s long-term operational goals and growth strategy,” said Pure Lithium Founder and CEO Emilie Bodoin. “This is a decisive step in the company’s transition from pure R&D to scaling up for commercial production. This requires different technologies, different facilities and different skillsets. This move allows us to construct a semi-automated battery pilot line vertically integrating our lithium metal reactor, and the incentives assist in funding critical pilot equipment, accelerating our timeline to market.”
Chicago’s robust infrastructure and qualified workforce of technicians and highly trained engineers will support Pure Lithium’s shift from pure R&D to production. The move also positions Pure Lithium in prime proximity to Argonne National Laboratory, one of the nation’s leading scientific institutions. Pure Lithium and Argonne are currently collaborating on a project to scale lithium metal anode production using recycled lithium metal, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.
With its commitment to investing $46 million and moving jobs to Illinois and/or creating 50 new jobs, Pure Lithium will receive Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) incentives from DCEO as part of an incentive package. REV provides competitive incentives for manufacturers across EV and renewables sectors to expand in or move to Illinois. A link to the executed REV agreement can be found here.
“Through the REV Illinois program, the State is supporting companies that have a shared mission of bolstering manufacturing jobs in Illinois’ clean energy economy,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “Pure Lithium’s decision to relocate its operation and begin manufacturing in Chicago is a testament to Illinois’ role as a clean energy leader that offers competitive incentives, a world-class workforce and top-rated infrastructure.”
“By moving its operations to Chicago, Pure Lithium is joining a legacy of companies in Illinois’ manufacturing industry that are contributing to the clean energy ecosystem,” said Senator Lakesia Collins (D – Chicago). “These investments support the goals of growing the clean energy production and manufacturing industries, as outlined in Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan.”
This major investment aligns with the State of Illinois’ Open for Business report, a five-year roadmap of the State’s economic development programming and priorities. Pure Lithium’s relocation follows numerous manufacturing companies that have also recently chosen to expand in Illinois, including Damera Corporation, Rivian, and Wieland North America.
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