Battery manufacturer Pure Lithium Corp. said Thursday that it will relocate its operations from Boston to Chicago.
The company, founded in Boston four years ago, is developing electric batteries without graphite, nickel, cobalt, or manganese. That not only means cheaper batteries, but also avoids mining operations that degrade the environment and exploit workers.
Pure Lithium will move to Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood this year, invest $46 million, and create 50 new jobs, according to the office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
“I am excited to welcome the team at Pure Lithium to our state, where they’ll be an excellent addition to the business landscape and burgeoning clean energy ecosystem,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Their investment will not only create jobs and economic opportunity for our people but help power the green revolution right here in Illinois.”
Pritzker, who announced he will run for a third term, is a strong advocate for green energy and a critic of the Trump administration, which is rolling back incentives to advance wind, solar, and other clean technologies.
Pure Lithium said it considered several states over the past 18 months before selecting Illinois serves as a strong foundation for it to expand into production and manufacturing. The company will receive state incentives from the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois program, according to the company.
“Our new facility in Chicago aligns with the company’s long-term operational goals and growth strategy,” said Pure Lithium Founder and CEO Emilie Bodoin. “This is a decisive step in the company’s transition from pure R&D to scaling up for commercial production.”
The company is focusing on the drone and defense industries, while also eyeing markets for consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and tapping to the energy grid.
Yogev Toby can be reached at yogev.toby@globe.com.
