Lithium metal battery company Pure Lithium to relocate to Chicago.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) recently announced that Pure Lithium Corporation will relocate its entire operation from Boston to Chicago. The move comes with a $46 million investment from the company, supported in part by Illinois' Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV Illinois) program.

Pure Lithium is a next-generation battery technology company, and the move takes place as part of their transition from R&D to commercial production, 

The business aims to manufacture the first commercially viable lithium metal battery in Illinois, for use in consumer electronics, grid-scale energy storage systems, drones, defense and electric vehicles. “Their investment will not only create jobs and economic opportunity for our people but help power the green revolution right here in Illinois,” Pritzker said in a statement.

The company plans to inaugurate its new manufacturing facility this year in Chicago’s rapidly expanding Fulton Market district, an area fast becoming a hub for technology firms. Pure Lithium’s founder and CEO, Emilie Bodoin, noted that the relocation is critical for the company’s long-term operational goals. Transitioning from pure R&D to commercial production “requires different technologies, different facilities and different skillsets” she said. The new facility will enable the construction of a semi-automated battery pilot line that integrates their lithium metal reactor, she added. 

Chicago offers Pure Lithium strategic advantages, including a skilled workforce of technicians and engineers, robust infrastructure, and proximity to Argonne National Laboratory, one of the nation’s premier scientific institutions. Pure Lithium is collaborating with Argonne on a project to scale lithium metal anode production using recycled lithium metal, with financial backing from the U.S. Department of Energy. These factors helped influence Pure Lithium’s decision to relocate to Illinois after considering options in various cities and states.

Kristin Richards, Director of DCEO, emphasized that the state is committed to supporting companies aligned with the mission of boosting manufacturing jobs in the clean energy sector through the REV Illinois program. “Pure Lithium’s decision to relocate its operation and begin manufacturing in Chicago is a testament to Illinois’ role as a clean energy leader that offers competitive incentives, a world-class workforce and top-rated infrastructure,” Richards said.

Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan aims to attract investments, foster job creation, and reinforce sustainable economic development, with clean energy production and manufacturing identified as key areas of focus. 

The company plans to create or relocate 50 jobs, adding to Illinois’ ambition to lead a clean energy transition. With its innovative battery technology avoiding materials such as graphite, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, the move aligns with broader regional efforts in the Midwest to develop sustainable, efficient energy storage solutions that can power tomorrow’s electric vehicles, electronics, and grid systems.