Lyten, a California-based supermaterial company and developer of lithium-sulfur batteries, has produced the United States’ first battery-grade lithium-metal foil using U.S.-made lithium alloys and domestically sourced lithium-metal. This achievement marks a major step in establishing a fully localized and tariff-free battery supply chain in the U.S., as Lyten already manufactures its sulfur cathode domestically and is now localizing its lithium-metal anode production as well.
The company’s lithium-sulfur batteries do not require nickel, manganese, cobalt, or graphite-minerals that are typically imported and processed overseas, particularly in China. Instead, Lyten uses a sulfur cathode, which is sourced from U.S. industrial byproducts, and a lithium-metal anode produced from lithium processed and alloyed at facilities in Pennsylvania and California. The lithium feedstock is sourced from the Eastern U.S., with proprietary alloying and foil production taking place at Lyten’s San Jose facility, which now houses one of the largest lithium foil extrusion and rolling operations in North America.
This domestic manufacturing milestone comes as U.S. policymakers and defense agencies push for greater autonomy in critical materials and battery manufacturing. The U.S. currently relies heavily on China for battery-grade lithium and other minerals, creating a strategic vulnerability. Lyten’s approach eliminates this risk by building a supply chain that is both resilient and compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Applications for Lyten’s ultra-lightweight lithium-sulfur batteries span energy storage, electric vehicles, drones, satellites, micromobility, and defense. The company’s batteries are already being integrated into Chrysler’s Halcyon Concept EV, AEVEX Aerospace’s unmanned aerial vehicles, and are scheduled for demonstration aboard the International Space Station later in 2025.
Lyten is also expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint, having acquired Northvolt’s battery plant in San Leandro, California, to ramp up commercial production. Backed by a $650 million letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Lyten plans to scale up battery production for both domestic and international markets.
Lyten’s leadership emphasizes that controlling the entire domestic supply chain-from lithium sourcing and alloying to foil production and cell assembly-positions the company at the forefront of next-generation U.S. battery manufacturing, free from foreign supply chain risks and tariffs.
