Junior explorer HIPO Resources (ASX:HIP) holds a 25 per cent stake in Next-Battery, a start-up that promises to double the driving range of electric cars.

Last September, Next-Battery chief Benton Wilcoxon said the company would have a prototype of its product up “in six to 12 months”.

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Today, HIPO says Next-Battery is moving into prototype battery development, subject to “completion of a current strategic funding process”.

The company is aiming big. Key areas of development include a prototype “Thin Film High Specific Energy” lithium-ion battery, a vanadium-ion battery, and a solid-state battery.

“What started as a unique and novel thin film cathode concept has morphed into multiple opportunities and development applications that our team have identified as we move towards commercial prototypes after very positive discussions with key end users, some of which have been reported,” Next Battery managing director Benton Wilcoxon says.

“Following the current financing round, Next-Battery will be in a position to fast-track at least three key developments: thin film cathode, chemical supercapacitor and solid state electrolyte which will allow current discussions with major end users to potentially turn into significant commercial negotiations.

“The next 3-6 months are pivotal for Next-Battery as we look to move from research and development into unique and unparalleled commercial applications.”


 

In more ASX battery metals news today:

AVZ (ASX:AVZ) has the largest measured and indicated lithium resource in the world. The Roche Dure pegmatite is now 41 per cent bigger at 269 million tonnes grading 1.65% lithium, with tin and tantalum credits. Increased resource certainty means more certainty when it comes to mining planning and financial modelling, the explorer says. And as a bonus, tin and tantalum production can now be included in future financial modelling.

It’s graphite news aplenty for small cap investors. Black Rock Mining (ASX:BKT) has locked in pricing agreements with offtake partners which it says is consistent with its DFS basket pricing.
 
Korean Resources (KORES) will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost a 3 hole, 340m drilling program at Peninsula Mines’ (ASX:PSM) Gapyeong graphite project.
 
And Strike Resources (ASX:SRK) gets some excellent results from battery test work, undertaken using graphite from its Burke project in Queensland.


 

At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While AVZ is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.

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