Manganese X Supplies Battery Hill Sample for NRC Study
A CA$632,111 National Research Council cathode programme will test Canadian manganese, lithium and nickel with POSCO's technical support.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
Manganese X supplied a 10kg sample of high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate produced from its Battery Hill deposit for a research programme led by the National Research Council of Canada. The project brings together Canadian lithium, manganese and nickel feedstocks to develop lithium manganese-rich cathode materials.
Why it matters
The programme tests whether Canadian-sourced battery materials can perform in lower-nickel, higher-manganese cathode chemistries. Validated domestic supply chains could reduce reliance on imported battery inputs across Canada's electric vehicle sector.
The CA$632,111 programme includes a 10kg manganese sulphate sample from Battery Hill. Manganese X's contribution is valued at about CA$116,325, while the NRC's share is about CA$155,500.
The players
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
The federal science agency leading the cathode research programme and producing and testing the battery materials.
POSCO
The South Korean steelmaker and battery materials company that will conduct technical verification and performance assessments of the precursor and cathode materials.
The details
Kemetco Research supplied the Battery Hill-derived manganese material, while E3 Lithium is providing battery-grade lithium carbonate from its Clearwater Lithium Project in Alberta. NiVolt Technologies is supplying Canadian nickel sulphate, and the NRC will produce precursor cathode materials, cathode active material and coin cells for testing.
Timeline
March 31, 2027: Scheduled completion of the NRC cathode research project.
Roadmap
Lithium manganese-rich cathodes use more manganese and less nickel and cobalt than conventional high-nickel chemistries. This project tests whether Canadian feedstocks can support that shift in electric vehicle battery production.
Validated Canadian battery materials could eventually influence the cost and sourcing of batteries for electric vehicles built or sold in Canada. The research itself does not change vehicle prices or availability today.
The takeaway
Domestic sourcing of battery materials is becoming a practical concern for electric vehicle supply chains. Watch for independent performance data before drawing conclusions about commercial viability.
What happens next
The NRC cathode research project is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2027, when performance results are expected.
Further reading
Explore more coverage of Electric Vehicles in Canada and how domestic battery supply chains are developing.
