Investing today in the car of tomorrow

Will produce enough sustainable cathode precursor for 750,000 electric vehicles per year

The batteries that power EVs don’t last forever. And Ascend Elements is turning that potential problem into an opportunity. The Massachusetts-based company, with facilities in Kentucky and Georgia, is tackling the critical minerals shortage that faces the battery supply chain. Ascend’s patented process turns battery manufacturing scrap and end-of-life batteries into cathode active material and its precursor of comparable quality to virgin materials, while eliminating process steps, lowering costs and reducing emissions. Its new factory in Kentucky, when complete, will produce enough sustainable cathode precursor for 750,000 EVs a year.

Provides vertically integrated recycling, waste management, and environmental services for more than 33,000 municipal, commercial, and industrial customers

The average car has more plastic than ever before – 411 pounds, according to the American Chemistry Council. And the plastic of the future will increasingly come from the plastic of the past, making a recycling and waste management company like E360S crucial to the cars of the future. Providing vertically integrated recycling, waste management, and environmental services for more than 33,000 municipal, commercial, and industrial customers in Canada, E360S is poised to play an important role as a provider of recycled materials.

Has pioneered a manufacturing process that employs renewable energy and a patented low-emission methane pyrolysis process instead of combustion

Carbon-black is a major component of car tires, among dozens of other everyday items. Monolith has pioneered a manufacturing process that employs renewable energy and a patented low-emission methane pyrolysis process instead of combustion, to produce not only low-emission carbon black, but also hydrogen that can be reused for energy or in other products, such as fertilizer. Goodyear has partnered with Monolith to produce their ElectricDrive GT tire for EVs using Monolith’s clean carbon-black material.

Uses a patented technology to develop a leather alternative made from mycelium – an organic thread

Leather interiors are common in many cars. MycoWorks uses a patented technology to develop a leather alternative made from mycelium – an organic thread that grows from mushroom roots. This soft yet resilient fabric is used by fashion brands such as Hermes as well as other industries. More recently, the company has entered into an agreement with General Motors to use its biomaterial to upholster EV interiors. Founded in San Francisco, the company will open its first commercial-scale manufacturing plant in South Carolina later this year.

Plans to install an EV charging station every 100-150km on Europe’s highways, with an increase to roughly 7,000 stations by 2025

Wider adoption of EVs require more locations for quick, convenient charging. Developed as a joint venture of leading car manufacturers, Ionity builds and currently operates more than 500 high-speed electric charging stations and over 2,700 chargers in 24 countries across Europe. With the backing of automakers including BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen (including Audi and Porsche), Ford and Kia/Hyundai, it plans to install an EV charging station every 100-150km on Europe’s highways, with an increase to roughly 7,000 stations by 2025.