On Tuesday, Anthro Energy broke ground on a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, which aims to produce enough battery materials for over 300,000 electric vehicles. But its true innovation lies in the manufacturing of electrolytes that could usher in solid-state batteries—a significant step towards energy density and safety improvements in the industry.

The facility is part of a larger push by American companies to reduce dependency on Chinese materials. Anthro Energy hopes to be a key player in this ecosystem, providing a domestic source free from 'foreign entity of concern' issues, as its co-founder and CEO David Mackanic explains exclusively to TechCrunch.

With backing from the Department of Energy’s $24.9 million award and additional $18.4 million investment tax credits, Anthro plans to ramp up its production by 2028. The factory will produce a range of electrolytes, with the potential for most output to be dedicated to Anthro’s Proteus polymer product—a material designed to integrate seamlessly into existing lines.

Proteus promises not only increased strength and flexibility but also a solution to the safety challenges posed by conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, the path from lab to market is fraught with obstacles, as many companies have struggled making the leap from small-scale to large-scale production. Federal funding may just be Anthro’s key to overcoming these hurdles.