Leadership and Track Record
Established and Delivering.
After rigorous technical validation, industry leaders like LG Technology Ventures and GM Ventures have invested in Li Industries to scale our cutting-edge technology.
Why Li Industries Exists
Li Industries was founded in 2017 by Dr. Zheng Li, who studied under Nobel Laureate Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham, the “Founding Father of Lithium-Ion Batteries.” While most of the industry focuses on breaking batteries down into black mass, Dr. Li realized that recovered battery materials can be processed directly into premium cathode materials, not just intermediate materials.
This insight is the foundation of Li Industries’ differentiation. We don’t merely recycle. We recover supply and manufacture finished goods. In a world facing supply concentration risk, pricing volatility, and growing battery waste, this approach matters more than ever.
Executive Team
Operators with proven experience scaling advanced materials production.
Dr. Zheng Li
MIT-trained scientist and Virginia Tech professor with 18+ years in battery materials R&D and commercialization. Founding inventor of LII’s proprietary closed-loop technology. Studied under Nobel Laureate Dr. Whittingham.
Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham
2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. “Founding Father of Lithium-Ion Batteries.” Distinguished Professor at Binghamton University. Member of US National Academy of Engineering.
Nolan Schmidt
Former VP of BAE Systems Platform Solutions, responsible for $1.3B division designing and producing electrically-powered vehicles. 30+ years in US defense and industrial leadership.
Gale Clark
20+ years leading commercial teams across renewable energy and recycling. Negotiated major complex agreements across energy, petrochemical, and recycling sectors. Former executive at Schneider Electric and First Solar.
Tom Mistretta
30+ years leading operational teams in clean technologies, semiconductors, and specialty materials. Built and scaled plants up to $500M in capex. Former VP Global Operations at Entegris, BASF, and DuPont.
David Young
MIT Materials Science, former Head of Operations at Inteplast Group ($600M division). 10+ years in R&D and operations for advanced materials.
Carl Smith
President Emeritus and former CEO of Call2Recycle (USA’s largest battery recycling program). CEO 2008 to 2020. 40+ years in private and public sector leadership.
Dr. Michael W. Ellis
Dr. Ellis has 25 years of experience in engineering design, research, and education related to the development and application of advanced energy systems. His work has been funded by DOE, NSF, major industry and small business organizations.
Commercial Operations
Li Industries is a commercial scale company with production facilities delivering high quality cathode materials.
Operating Facilities
Headquarters, Engineering Center and R&D located in Charlotte, NC. Current throughput: 500 TPY and scaling to 12,000 TPY in 2027.
Partnerships
We partner with leading battery and EV manufacturers to scale next-generation closed-loop materials manufacturing technologies.
US Department of Energy
$55 million award, the largest federal investment in domestic closed-loop LFP CAM production. This validates our technology, team, and strategic importance to national energy security.
Ready to Start
a Partnership?
Let’s discuss whether Li Industries is the right partner for your supply requirements.
