NOUVEAU MONDE’S INTEGRATED BATTERY ANODE MATERIAL OUTPERFORMS LEADING COMMERCIAL PRODUCERS + Nouveau Monde has received important and impressive test results for its advanced graphite-based anode materials. + Nouveau Monde’s anode material has outperformed leading Asian commercial producers
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
NOUVEAU MONDE’S INTEGRATED BATTERY ANODE MATERIAL
OUTPERFORMS LEADING COMMERCIAL PRODUCERS
+ Nouveau Monde has received important and impressive test results for its advanced
graphite-based anode materials.
+ Nouveau Monde’s anode material has outperformed leading Asian commercial producers
– the Company’s reversible capacity (or energy density) performed at 365 mAh/g, above
the 360 mAh/g of Asian peers, with similar charging efficiency, and well above the
minimum customer specifications requirement of 350 mAh/g.
+ Multiple samples were produced by Nouveau Monde’s advanced international technical
team, in partnership with its R&D consortiu m partners, and have now delivered to
prospective lithium-ion battery customers for qualification testing.
+ This proprietary carbon coating technology will be incorporated into the company’s
demonstration plant at Becancour, Quebec.
+ Nouveau Monde is actively working with its partner, Forge Nano, to even further enhance
the performance with their Atomic Layer Deposition ALD technology.
+ Nouveau Monde’s ability to control the entire value chain from graphite ore to the final
coated anode material allows it t o offer a high quality and consistent product,
representing an important and cost-competitive supply of non-Chinese sustainable anode
product to the fast-growing lithium-ion battery market.
+ Nouveau Monde’s unique, high-quality and zero -carbon footprint ano de materials are
well placed to serve both the North American as well as European anode materials
markets for decades to come.
MONTREAL, CANADA, November 12, 2020 – Nouveau Monde Graphite (“Nouveau Monde” or the
“Company”) ( TSXV: NOU; OTCQX: NMGRF; Frankfurt: NM9) is pleased to announce that it has
completed an important technical program on its proprietary coating process with its research and
development consortium, internal experts and raw material suppliers. The primary objective of the
program, operating since 2018, was to establish the optimal process operational parameters and
design criteria needed to complete the engineering and procurement of a large -scale
demonstration coating line. This process step is crucial in demonstrating the full value chain
proposition as an integrated battery anode materials producer, from mine to market-ready coated
spherical purified graphite (“CSPG”).
Eric Desaulniers, President & CEO, states, “The last few years of dedication to R&D and to forging
partnerships with the leading research and battery anode experts is now allowing us to bring to
market a high-quality ready-for-market battery anode material that compares very favorably with
the established Asian supply chain. We will be able to respond to clients needs based on scale, cost-
competitiveness, carbon-neutrality and product quality and performance efficiency.”
Furthermore, Arne H.Frandsen, Chairman of Nouveau Mon de, commented: “This is an important
announcement, confirming both the high quality of our anode product as wel l as our ability to
produce those critical battery raw materials. With our substantial resource base in Qu ébec and
integrated value-chain, Nouveau Monde is well set to become a global leader in the supply of
anode materials for decades to come”.
To confirm product quality and performance, the Company ’s CSPG was benchmarked against the
leading Asian commercial anode material that currently dominate the lithium -ion supply chain. A
series of electrochemical tests made by the National Research Council of Canada revealed that
under the same conditions in half -button cell batteries, the reversible capacity (a measure of the
energy density for performance) obtained with Nouveau Monde’s anode material is 365 mAh/g
compared with 360 mAh/g for the leading Asian standards. Importantly, the coulombic efficiency
for the first cycle was similar for both products and within industry specifications. Further, the
broader market minimum specification for reversible capacity is well below at only 350 mAh/g ,
highlighting the market opportunity for Nouveau Monde.
Figure 1: Nouveau Monde’s coated anode material outperforms leading peers
The importance of coating to Nouveau Monde
In a lithium-ion battery, coating is used to:
+ form a stable and passive carbon barrier around the high -purity spheronised graphite ,
which prevents the electrolyte from penetrating into the graphite and creates a stable
electrolyte interface layer; and
+ increase first- cycle efficiency by decreasing the specific surface area of t he particles ,
reducing the loss of lithium within the electrolyte interface.
350 mAh/g
360 mAh/g
365 mAh/g
Current market specification Leading Asian producer Nouveau Monde
Coating is considered the last value-added production step and will allow Nouveau Monde to
provide high purity, battery grade anode material for the rapidly growing electric vehic le and
renewable energy storage industries , securing significantly higher margins and cash flow for
shareholders.
Figure 2: Increased margins through the value-added process
Forge Nano’s ALD coating will enhance performance of current carbon coated anode material
On October 6, 2020 Nouveau Monde announced a collaborative agreement between the Company
and the US-based high-tech company Forge Nano for the use of advanced coating technologies to
enhance the performance of Nouveau Monde’s carbon coated anode material. Eric Desaulniers
explains: “Now that we have develop ed a process that is scalable, low- cost and proven based on
the known carbon coating technologies, we are working closely with our partner at Forge Nano
with their state-of-the art ALD coating to significantly improve anode material quality above what
is currently available in the market. The ALD coating that Forge Nano will provide will be added on
top of our coated product, creating a premium anode material for specific customers. Through
Nouveau Monde, potential clients will have the ability to purchase our industry- standard anode
material or an enhanced superior anode material for more performance driven applications.”
Market perspective
On October 22, 2020 , Roskill, an expert research and consultancy firm focused on the metals,
minerals and chemicals industries, commented on Nouveau Monde and shared their insight into
the market for coated product : “The addition of coatings creates even higher potential for pr ofit
from spherical graphite. Only a limited number of producers currently carry out battery material
coating processes, which require a high level of knowledge and experience and has traditionally
taken place in Japan and, more recently, South Korea, using proprietary production methods.
Chinese spherical graphite producers have now also begun to develop coatings, mainly for supply
to the domestic market.
The average value of Chinese imports of (mostly coated) spherical graphite was US$7,157/t in 2019
but prices vary widely depending on the type of coating, as requested by the consumer and
determined by the final battery application. China’s monthly average value of imports ranged from
a low of US$4,068/t to a high of US$22,965/t in 2019.”
About Nouveau Monde
Nouveau Monde will be a key operator in the sustainable energy revolution. The Company is
developing the only fully integrated source of green battery anode material in the Western World.
Targeting full scale commercial operations by e arly 2023, the Company will provide advanced
carbon-neutral graphite-based material solutions to the growing lithium-ion and fuel cell markets.
With low- cost operations and the highest of ESG standards, Nouveau Monde will become a
strategic supplier to the world’s leading battery and auto manufacturers, ensuring robust and
reliable advanced material, while guaranteeing supply chain traceability.
Media Investors
Julie Paquet
Director, Communications
Nouveau Monde
+1 450-757-8905 (#140)
Christina Lalli
Director, Investor Relations
Nouveau Monde
+1 438-399-8665
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to (i) the
positive impact of the foregoing on project economics, (ii) increased margins through NMG’s value-added process, and
(iii) generally, or the “About Nouveau Monde Graphite” paragraph which essentially describe the Corporation’s outlook
and objectives, constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of certain
securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the ti me of this press release. Forward -
looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable
by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, ec onomic and
competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in any forward- looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-
looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about
management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events
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