Novonix will combine lithium carbonate samples provided by Lake with commercial battery cathode precursor materials to form an NMC622 cathode and battery.

The process will assess Lake's lithium performance compared to battery standards, so that potential users and off-takers of Lake's product can make direct and relevant comparisons of its performance to familiar cell chemistries.

"With EV makers accelerating their production plans, high-purity and responsibly sourced lithium is in increasingly short supply globally. We look forward to expediting the results from Novonix and providing samples to potential off-take partners as soon as possible," said Lake's managing director, Steve Promnitz.

The processing into NMC622 lithium-ion batteries by Novonix will take a minimum of four months, with the first results expected two months after the cathode material is produced.

Lake recently appointed Colorado-based Hazen Research to produce lithium carbonate samples from the lithium chloride produced by Lake's technology partner, Lilac Solutions, at its pilot plant in California.

Lilac has previously produced 99.9% pure lithium carbonate from this lithium chloride using the conventional lithium carbonate process. The first battery-quality lithium carbonate samples are expected to be produced by Hazen within weeks.