BMW Group announced a new investment per lefficient and sustainable lithium extraction. This is a central project for the future of the company, which is increasingly committed to the electromobility sector. In fact, by the end of 2030, around half of BMW’s sales will be 100% electric vehicles. In the future, therefore, it will be increasingly important to be able to rely on lithium, the raw material for the production of battery cells.
BMW Group is betting on sustainable lithium extraction
BMW Group has therefore decided to invest in a new project for the sustainable extraction of lithium. Through the venture capital fund, BMW i Ventures, the company has invested in a innovative process of the American startup Lilac Solutions. This startup has patented a technology that will significantly improve the efficiency of lithium mining.
Thanks to the new technology, extracting lithium from geothermal brine (i.e. natural salt water deposits) will be more efficient and cheaper. It should be noted that in this way the environmental impact will also be reduced. The new technology has already offered satisfactory results in the first pilot projects. Now it will be necessary to verify its scalability and medium-term industrialization.
The company’s comment on the new investment
With regard to the new investment, the statements of Wolfgang Obermaier, Senior Vice President Indirect Goods and Services, Raw Materials, Production Partners of the company. The manager underlines: “By investing in Lilac Solutions, we are supporting technological progress in the field of lithium extraction, with particular attention to responsible and sustainable methods”.