Lilac raises $20m to work on lithium extraction technology

“We can’t push for faster EV adoption without the resources to support production. Lilac Solutions’ novel technology can change the supply and demand equation by helping lithium producers extract much larger quantities at a significantly lower cost” – Carmichael Roberts, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Oakland-based Lilac Solutions raised $20 million in Series A funding to continue working on a new ion exchange technology for lithium extraction from brine resources. According to the company, the mechanism is significantly faster, cheaper, and more scalable than existing technology.

Lilac reports having successfully demonstrated the system’s capabilities at large scale, and with dozens of brine resources from around the world.

The new funding, thus, is aimed at expanding the company’s engineering team, scaling up production of its unique ion exchange beads, which form the core of the company’s lithium extraction system, and deploying the Lilac technology in areas beyond its current US and South American operations.

“The Lilac team couldn’t be more excited to have this spectacular group of investors support us and our vision to modernize lithium production,” Dave Snydacker, the firm’s founder and CEO, said in a media statement. “With Lilac unlocking significant new supplies of lithium, battery manufacturers are poised for decades of growth as the world transitions to electric vehicles and renewable power.”