Nano One Materials (NNO.V) lifts off, up 20% on news of partnership with major auto supplier

You’ve gotta hand it to the IR guys, science guys, and execs behind Nano One Materials (NNO.C). This is one hell of a well crafted news release:

Nano One has begun working with a tier 1 automotive supplier on the development of cobalt-free high-voltage spinel (HVS) and nickel-rich NMC cathode materials (622, 811) for the advancement of solid-state lithium ion batteries. Coatings, dopants and additives are being developed to enhance durability, stability and compatibility with solid electrolytes.

Boom.

“The successful construction and operation of Nano One’s pilot plant in 2017 has enabled the production of larger volumes of cathode material and has triggered several other third party evaluations of HVS, 622, 811 and lithium iron phosphate cathode materials,” [said CEO Dan Blondal.]

Boom.

Operating the pilot has also enabled Nano One to complete preliminary engineering plans for a modular 3300 ton/yr cathode production unit that could supply materials for roughly 24,000 60kWh electric vehicle batteries. Corporately, Nano One has also begun work on detailed plant engineering in support of technology licensing proposals to global industrial interests.

Boom.

“Lastly,” added Mr. Blondal, “Nano One’s process can use lithium feedstock in the form of either carbonate or hydroxide for the production of high performance cathode materials, and we have begun working with a range of lithium sources from various producers to demonstrate the flexibility of our processing technology. We believe this could reduce constraints on the supply of battery grade lithium by enabling new sources.”

Christ.

Remember back when we poked holes in the news releases of St Jean Carbon (SJL.V) for claiming they had an offtake deal with Panasonic, when they didn’t, at all, even close? Remember that BS release that claimed a big win that didn’t exist, and how we sprang the truth and the stock shredded?

That’s the opposite of what Nano is doing. They have deals with names that would send us to the feinting couch, but they’re keeping it civil.

Let me wind this one back for you a few years, when we first started telling you that NNO was the real deal. In that time, what they told us was they would be doing all of the things listed above.

They just had to build a pilot plant first. Which led cynics to opine that such a thing would never happen. They’d never raise the money. They’d never deliver the tech. They’d never get a patent.

They’ve nailed all of that, and more. They did exactly what they said they would, the tech works, the pilot plant is up, and they more or less stayed promo-light through the whole time, preferring to let their actions move the market.

That’s taken some time, but you can’t keep a lid on excellence forever, and the market is starting to realize, hells a-poppin’, these guys are really doing it.

What ‘it’ is, is licensing their patented tech to companies that make cathodes, so that said companies can improve on performance, cost, time spent in production, flexibility in source materials, and more. The entire lithium market price spikes are predicated on it being tough to get more lithium, while Nano One is showing you might not need to.

That’s a major situation.

And it’s why the stock is up 147% this month. 

As for who the car part supplier is that’s working with Nano, you can try to guess the name of the company but it’s not worth bothering. They’ll either do an exclusive deal, which will make Nano a lot of money, or a non-exclusive deal which will bring in every other battery company as the commercialization of their tech is proven.

We’ve told you for years Nano One is legit. If you believed, you’re having a great day.

Month.

Year.

— Chris Parry

FULL DISCLOSURE: Nano One is an Equity.Guru marketing client, and the author took part in the most recent financing round. And the one before it. And one before that.