Agoracom Blog

HPQ Silicon’s Asia Battery LOI: A Potential “Intel Inside” Moment For Next-Gen Batteries

Posted by Alavaro Coronel at 8:27 AM on Friday, May 22nd, 2026

When a company moves from lab validation to commercial conversations, the phone does not just ring once. It starts ringing from multiple directions.

HPQ Silicon’s technology partner Novacium has signed a non-binding, non-exclusive Letter of Intent with GH Technologies, a Hong Kong based B2B distributor, to evaluate potential commercial opportunities for high capacity GEN4 lithium-ion cells in Asia Pacific markets.

The LOI covers Novacium’s GEN4 18650 and 21700 formats, along with other lithium-ion batteries built on Novacium’s GEN4 silicon anode technology. Asia Pacific represents more than 57% of global demand for cylindrical lithium-ion cells, making it one of the most important regions for battery commercialization.

GH Technologies entered the LOI following its evaluation of Novacium GEN4 cells, including reported capacity exceeding 6,600 mAh, reported energy density of 319.9 Wh/kg, and international certifications including IEC 62133, UL 1642, and UN 38.3.

A related Novacium LinkedIn post added another layer of context, referencing a potential partnership value of more than US$30 million over 36 months. That figure should be understood as potential value, not confirmed revenue or a completed sales contract. Still, when combined with the official LOI, it points to the scale of the commercial opportunity now being evaluated.

For HPQ, which holds a 36.8% equity interest in Novacium and exclusive North American rights to commercialize the technology under the ENDURA+ trademark, the story is moving from technical performance toward early commercial execution.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Asia Expansion: Novacium signed a nonbinding, nonexclusive LOI with GH Technologies to evaluate potential commercial opportunities for GEN4 battery technologies across Asia Pacific markets.

Potential US$30M Value: A Novacium LinkedIn post referenced a potential partnership value of more than US$30 million over 36 months, which should be viewed as potential value rather than confirmed revenue.

High Capacity Results: GH Technologies entered the LOI after evaluating Novacium GEN4 cells, including reported capacity exceeding 6,600 mAh and reported energy density of 319.9 Wh/kg.

Major Battery Market: Asia Pacific represents more than 57% of global demand for cylindrical lithium-ion cells, according to the company’s release.

Phone Ringing: Bernard Tourillon says HPQ is now focused on converting growing market interest into first sales, with about 10 NDAs active.

Nimble Strategy: Rather than chasing only large, slow moving contracts, HPQ is targeting flexible buyers in markets such as drones, electric bikes, power tools, defense, embedded systems, and high energy density electronic equipment.

STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS

The battery materials industry is facing a performance challenge. Traditional graphite based anodes are approaching practical limits, while silicon based anode materials offer the potential for greater capacity. The commercial challenge has always been making silicon materials perform reliably, integrating them into existing manufacturing, and scaling them economically.

HPQ Silicon and Novacium are working to address that gap. Novacium’s GEN4 cells are being positioned for applications that require higher capacity lithium-ion solutions, while HPQ’s North American rights under the ENDURA+ trademark give the company a defined commercialization pathway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

The Asia Pacific LOI is important because it provides a structured framework to evaluate potential business opportunities in one of the largest battery markets in the world. It is not a completed sales contract, and any definitive transaction remains subject to customer validation, final agreements, and regulatory approvals. But it does show that Novacium’s GEN4 technology is now being evaluated in a major commercial region by a distributor with direct market access.

This is where HPQ’s “Intel Inside” style positioning becomes relevant. The company is not only trying to sell batteries. It is aiming to become an enabling technology provider for next generation energy storage, with the ability to supply cells to targeted buyers today while preserving the option to license materials to larger manufacturers over time.

The broader timing is also favourable. Governments want domestic battery supply chains. OEMs want alternatives to China linked sourcing. End users want longer runtime, better performance, and batteries that hold up over repeated use. HPQ’s GEN3 and GEN4 technologies are being developed to address those needs, and the company is now working to turn technical validation and market interest into commercial traction.

CEO Bernard Tourillon:

“This LOI provides a framework for Novacium and GH Technologies to evaluate potential business opportunities involving GEN4 battery technologies in Asia-Pacific markets. HPQ’s 36.8% equity ownership in Novacium SAS and its exclusive North American license provide the Company with access to these technologies for Canada, the United States, and Mexico under the HPQ ENDURA+ trademark.”

INVESTOR TAKEAWAY

HPQ Silicon is progressing from lab validation toward early commercial execution. Novacium’s GEN4 battery technology has now attracted an Asia Pacific LOI with GH Technologies, following reported high capacity cell performance and international certifications. HPQ’s 36.8% equity interest in Novacium and exclusive North American commercialization rights under the ENDURA+ trademark give the company multiple ways to participate if the technology continues to advance.

For investors, the key question is no longer only whether the technology can perform in testing. The next stage is whether HPQ and Novacium can convert interest, validation, and commercial discussions into first revenue, customer adoption, and a scalable commercialization model.

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