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- A New Zealand startup is using wood to make synthetic graphite for EV batteries.
- CarbonScape uses leftover woodchips from timber making to produce batteries.
- Western nations are seeking alternatives to graphite as China dominates the supply chain.
A New Zealand-based startup is using woodchips to make synthetic graphite that can be used in EV batteries.
CarbonScape produces its alternative graphite by heating the waste from timber making, through a process known as pyrolysis, to create biochar, a carbon-rich material. The material is then milled and transformed into a raw form of graphite, which the company says is "a more sustainable option."