Critical minerals miner Albemarle has established an agreement with motor company Ford to delivery battery-grade lithium hydroxide to support the production of electric vehicles (EVs).
Under the agreement, Albemarle will supply over 100,000 metric tonnes of lithium hydroxide for approximately three million future Ford EV batteries.
The agreement will start in 2026 and continue through to 2030.
“With the growing demand for EVs in the United States, our customers are seeking to regionalise their supply chain for greater security, sustainability and lower costs,” Albemarle Energy Storage president Eric Norris said.
“This agreement exemplifies the industry collaborations and investments required. We’re honoured to be entering into this strategic partnership with a legendary automotive manufacturer such as Ford.”
The two companies will also explore collaborations to develop closed-loop solutions for lithium-ion battery recycling.
Albemarle and Ford have committed to only sourcing the lithium hydroxide from mines that have been accredited through an audit based on the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).
IRMA is a comprehensive standard developed by non-profit organisations.
“We are at a significant moment in Ford’s next industrial revolution for the EV age,” Ford vice president EV industrialisation model e Lisa Drake said.
“Working with strong global collaborators such as Albemarle, which has well-established operations and a proven track record of scaling facilities, helps us fortify and de-risk our plans for sourcing the key minerals we need to make EVs more accessible for our customers longer-term.”