First Phosphate Produces Commercial-Grade LFP Battery Cells Using North American Minerals

First Phosphate Corp. has successfully produced commercial-grade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) 18650 battery cells using critical minerals sourced entirely from North America, including lithium carbonate from Nevada and phosphate, iron, and graphite from Quebec. The battery cells, assembled by Ultion Technologies in Las Vegas, demonstrate North America's capability to localize the LFP battery supply chain and support diverse industries such as robotics, defense, energy storage, and mobility. CEO John Passalacqua emphasized the importance of reclaiming North America's leadership in LFP technology, which originated on the continent, to secure critical infrastructure across multiple sectors. The production involved a vertically integrated process linking sustainable mining and advanced manufacturing, with phosphate extracted from the Bégin-Lamarche property and processed in both Canada and the US. Despite automotive OEMs traditionally favoring higher energy density chemistries, there is growing interest in LFP cells due to their safety and cost advantages. This milestone positions North America to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains and advance clean energy technologies regionally.