AGORACOM Small-cap Investor Relations Blog

Following the Company’s 2024 AGM today, CEO Bernard Tourillon goes Beyond The AGM with George Tsiolis of AGORACOM to present the Company’s latest Power Point Presentation.

In electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the anode serves as a critical component, acting as a storage vessel for lithium ions that are then released when the battery is being used to power the car.

Graphite anodes, the current market dominators, have reached their peak energy density. This limitation is prompting a shift toward Silicon-based anodes, which offer up to 10 times the energy density.

Major players like Porsche, Mercedes, and GM are embracing this technology, recognizing its potential to revolutionize EV performance.

But while silicon-based anode materials hold great promise for batteries, they are known to suffer from significant degradation during charging and discharging cycles. Solving this problem will open up a market for silicon anode materials that could reach $130B by 2033.

ENTER HPQ SILICON INC. (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQB: HPQFF)

HPQ Silicon is positioning itself to become a key supplier of Silicon materials in battery anodes, which aligns with the US and Canadian government initiatives to establish domestic battery manufacturing ecosystems in an effort to reduce reliance on China.

Novacium, HPQ’s France-based affiliate, has acquired patents enhancing anode material performance, particularly in silicon-based Li-ion batteries. With the pressing demand for domestic battery material suppliers, HPQ Silicon’s advancements in silicon-based anode material position it as a crucial player in meeting the evolving needs of the electric vehicle industry while addressing supply chain vulnerabilities.

OVERALL CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT OF ~30% VS. GRAPHITE BENCHMARK

HPQ announced remarkable results from the initial 50-cycle tests of GEN2 material. These tests demonstrated a 30% improvement in capacity compared to graphite benchmarks and a 14% enhancement over their GEN1 materials, positioning the company at the forefront of the battery innovation race.

MINIMAL DEGRADATION

The GEN2 material displayed minimal cycle degradation, with only about a 1% increase over 50 cycles, indicating robust durability.

STRATEGIC VISION

The results underscore HPQ’s strategic vision to become a leading manufacturer of advanced silicon-based anode materials in North America and Europe.

TRANSFORMING BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

The tests, conducted on 18650 industrial batteries, revealed the following:

• Capacity Comparison: Batteries with 100% graphite showed an average capacity of 2,775 mAh, while those with GEN1 and GEN2 materials exhibited 3,174 mAh and 3,379 mAh respectively.
• Durability Insights: Over the 50 cycles, GEN2 materials not only maintained superior capacity but also demonstrated negligible degradation, ensuring longer battery life.

Dr. Jed Kraiem, COO of Novacium, emphasized the practical implications of these results, stating,

“These results continue to showcase our ability to produce a blend of graphite and advanced silicon anode material that can be seamlessly integrated into existing anode manufacturing facilities, improving overall battery performance.”

Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon Inc., noted,

“These achievements open new doors for HPQ as we strive to become a manufacturer of next-gen engineered silicon-based anode materials in jurisdictions that support these types of initiatives.”

As HPQ Silicon Inc. and Novacium continue to push the boundaries of battery technology, their GEN2 anode materials mark a critical step forward. This breakthrough not only highlights HPQ’s innovative capabilities but also underscores its potential for significant market impact.

HPQ Silicon has announced a significant partnership through a MOU with Impact Funding Europe (IFE), aiming to enhance their green technology projects. This collaboration seeks to leverage HPQ’s innovative silicon and silica-based technologies alongside IFE’s expertise in securing European Union funding, focusing on advancing sustainable industrial practices towards achieving global net-zero emissions.

Key Components of the HPQ-IFE Collaboration:

Focused Funding Initiatives: The partnership aims to utilize EU programs that may cover substantial project costs, prioritizing New Battery Technology and Green Hydrogen. This financial support is crucial for HPQ Silicon as it develops technologies like the PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactors and silicon-based anode materials for batteries.

Expertise and Track Record:

IFE’s success in international grant writing enhances HPQ’s capabilities to secure funding. The MOU plans to incorporate HPQ’s technologies into major EU-funded initiatives, tapping into the extensive funding available for the Green Deal and Industry Transformation, which exceeds 100 Billion EUR annually.

Anticipated Outcomes and Strategic Impact:

Advancing Technological Development: The collaboration is expected to expedite HPQ’s projects, particularly in creating low-cost, zero-emission silicon production and advanced materials for batteries. It also aims to explore the role of silicon in sustainable hydrogen production, furthering energy innovations.

Expanding Market Reach:

Aligning with IFE allows HPQ to access broader European funding opportunities, enhancing its position as a leader in sustainable technology. This alliance aims to boost HPQ’s operational capabilities and market presence in the green technology field.

Leadership Perspective:

“We are excited to collaborate with Impact Funding Europe to unlock opportunities for securing EU funding in the fields of Green Hydrogen and New Battery Technology,” said Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon. “This partnership highlights our commitment to innovation and a sustainable future.”

The MOU between HPQ Silicon and IFE signifies a pivotal step for HPQ in the global sustainability arena. It positions the company to significantly influence the development of green technologies, aligning with global efforts towards environmental sustainability. This collaboration promises to drive technological advancements and market expansion, positioning HPQ Silicon as a key player in the green technology sector and a compelling investment in the small-cap market.

In electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the anode serves as a critical component, acting as a storage vessel for lithium ions that are then released when the battery is being used to power the car.

Graphite anodes, the current market dominators, have reached their peak energy density. This limitation is prompting a shift toward Silicon-based anodes, which offer up to 10 times the energy density.

Major players like Porsche, Mercedes, and GM are embracing this technology, recognizing its potential to revolutionise EV performance.

But while silicon-based anode materials hold great promise for batteries, they are known to suffer from significant degradation during charging and discharging cycles.

Solving this problem will open up a market for silicon anode materials that could reach $130B by 2033.

ENTER HPQ SILICON INC. (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) 

HPQ Silicon is a technology company specialising in green engineering for silicon manufacturing. Positioned strategically to become a key supplier for Silicon materials in battery anodes, HPQ Silicon’s efforts align with the US and Canadian governments’ initiatives to establish domestic battery manufacturing ecosystems.

Novacium, HPQ’s France-based affiliate, has acquired patents enhancing anode material performance, particularly in silicon-based Li-ion batteries. With the pressing demand for domestic battery material suppliers, HPQ Silicon’s advancements in engineered SiOx materials position it as a crucial player in meeting the evolving needs of the electric vehicle industry while addressing supply chain vulnerabilities.

DELIVERING STRONG PERFORMANCE AT 100 CYCLES

Dr. Jed Kraiem, Novacium’s COO,

“We are learning a lot from these results at 100 cycles, results that continue to surpass our initial theoretical expectations of a 10% improvement in battery performance. These results are incredibly encouraging indicators of the material’s commercial viability in the battery manufacturing sector and underscore our ability to produce a blend of graphite and advanced engineered silicon anode material that significantly enhances battery performance.”

MAINTAINING PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE

Data analysis showcases the remarkable consistency and minimal degradation of Novacium’s silicon-based material blend at the 100-cycle mark. Despite Silicon’s historical degradation tendencies, Novacium’s engineered anode material demonstrates comparable degradation rates to graphite batteries, fueling optimism for future developments.

COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

A side-by-side comparison illustrates the energy density of Novacium’s silicon blend among the top-performing 18650 commercial batteries. HPQ and Novacium emphasise the preliminary nature of these tests, hinting at further optimization potential for enhanced battery performance.

Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon and Novacium,

“I am profoundly encouraged by the results to date. This achievement reflects our ability to deliver a material that can improve the performances of most batteries available in the market. However, I am even more excited about the potential of our next generations of materials.”

CEO ADDRESSES STOCK PRICE

Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon acknowledges the frustration among shareholders, including themselves, regarding the company’s stock price. Tourillon emphasises that despite the selling pressure on HPQ stock, it is not reflective of the company’s performance but rather specific circumstances of one shareholder. Despite the frustration, they express confidence in the company’s actions over the past year, which have generated the liquidity needed to absorb the selling pressure. The Tourillon urges shareholders to differentiate between market conditions unrelated to the company and its own strategic efforts. They stress the importance of addressing this issue to ensure shareholders understand the company’s trajectory, even amidst positive developments such as successful press releases.

As Novacium pushes boundaries in battery innovation, HPQ Silicon positions itself as a key player in the pursuit of greener, more efficient energy solutions. Explore the transformative potential of Novacium’s breakthrough technology in the video interview.

HPhQ Silicon (HPQ: TSX-V) (HPQFF: OTCQB) with the support of world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX: PYR) (OTCQX: PYRGF) and NOVACIUM SAS, new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions.

HPQ activities are centered around the following four pillars:

1. Becoming a green low-cost manufacturer of Fumed Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR.
2. Becoming a zero CO2 low-cost producer of High Purity Silicon through its proven PUREVAP™ “Quartz Reduction Reactors” (QRR)
3. Becoming a producer of silicon-based anode materials for battery applications
4. Developing a low carbon, on demand hydrogen production system.

More than just lipservice, HPQ has countless NDAs with some of the biggest players in the world and/or published technical milestones that shatter the status quo across each of these verticals.

Today we’re here to talk about #1 Fumed Silica and #3 Silicon based anode materials for batteries.