Ex-Johnson Controls Veteran to Ramp eCOphite Production from 1 kg to Thousands of Tons
JCI•COnovate appointed Craig Rigby, a Clarios veteran since 2007, as CEO to accelerate commercialization of its trademarked eCOphite lithium-ion battery material. The Wauwatosa startup currently produces 1 kg per week of lignin-derived eCOphite, targeting thousands of tons annually to strengthen domestic battery supply.
1. Leadership Transition
COnovate named Craig Rigby CEO, leveraging his tenure at Johnson Controls Battery Group and Clarios since 2007. He replaces co-founder Carol Hirschmugl, who will continue as chief technology officer to oversee research and development.
2. eCOphite Technology
eCOphite is a lignin-derived carbon material resembling graphite but offering faster charging speeds and better cold-temperature performance. The technology was developed by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professors in 2016 and trademarked for battery applications.
3. Production Scaling
The Wauwatosa facility currently yields about 1 kg (2.2 lb) of eCOphite per week, a significant increase from the initial nanogram quantities. Rigby aims to scale manufacturing to thousands of tons annually to meet industry demand.
4. Market Impact
By boosting domestic production of critical battery material, COnovate seeks to reduce U.S. dependence on imported graphite and support lithium-ion battery supply chains for electric vehicles, grid storage and defense sectors.
