Altris is a world leader in the development of sustainable, safe, and cost-effective batteries. The company is now embarking on a rapid growth journey where several world-leading companies from various industries will become new stakeholders. Acting CEO Christer Bergquist praises the collaboration with Uppsala Innovation Centre (UIC) and Swedish Scaleups during the company’s early stages.
– Altris started as a research project that evolved into a startup and is now a leading and fast-growing company in the battery industry. The support we have received in terms of expertise and help finding funding has been crucial to our development.
Altris’ journey began in 2015 when Ronnie Mogensen, a master’s student at the Ångström Advanced Battery Center at Uppsala University, read a study on sodium-ion batteries written by Nobel laureate John B. Goodenough.
Inspired by Goodenough’s research, Ronnie, together with his supervisor, Associate Professor Reza Younesi, and material chemistry expert Associate Professor William Brant, developed a so-called Prussian blue process that works as a cathode in sodium batteries. (The cathode is the battery’s positive pole and accounts for 30-50% of the battery’s performance). Ultimately, this means that it is now possible to replace lithium-ion batteries with sodium-ion batteries. Sodium is a cheaper and more abundant element than copper, nickel, and cobalt.
– You could jokingly say that what Dr. Goodenough came up with in this context wasn’t really “good enough,” says Christer. But the research our founders did almost ten years ago laid the foundation for what Altris has now built upon.
Two years later, in 2017, the three researchers patented their discoveries and founded Altris to begin the commercialization of their sodium-ion cathodes. When the world’s largest battery manufacturer, Chinese CATL, made a statement in 2020 that sodium-ion batteries are the next big thing in the industry, global interest in Altris increased dramatically.
– Suddenly, the doors opened for sodium-ion companies. Companies looking to invest in the industry began seeking out companies that were far ahead in development. We had just started our Series A round and were contacted by Northvolt, which later became our largest shareholder, says Christer.
The acting CEO, Christer Bergquist, praises the collaboration with Uppsala Innovation Centre and Swedish Scaleups during the company’s early stages.
It is worth noting that the chemistry that Northvolt is now trying to make work, including in Skellefteå, is based on lithium-ion batteries, which will not be as environmentally friendly as Altris’ sodium-ion batteries.
– The battery we have developed together with Northvolt has a 50–60% lower carbon footprint than the batteries they manufacture today. As far as we know, there is no one else in the world with such a sustainable solution. Additionally, we haven’t found anyone with the same high energy density as we have with the corresponding battery.
Altris is now in a funding round. The company has raised 150 million SEK so far but aims to raise more to transition from production in a pilot facility to industrial production. Among the investors are Clarios, a world leader in low-voltage batteries, and Maersk Growth, the world’s second-largest shipping company. The next step is full-scale production, which they hope to achieve within three years.
Altris participated in UIC’s Startup program in 2018. They were then part of the Build program in 2019 and are currently involved in Swedish Scaleups from 2021 to 2023.
– In our early stages, the support we received was important in many ways. UIC and Swedish Scaleups provided expertise, created structure, and played a crucial role in securing our financing during the company’s early phases, says Christer.