Our technology

Mobil™ Lithium

Extracting lithium more sustainably for a growing market

The increased demand for lithium – driven mostly by growth of electric vehicles – is a challenge that chemical producers, auto and battery manufacturers face daily. ExxonMobil has a long history of innovation in developing products for the auto industry – from fuels to lubes to advanced plastics.

With the introduction of Mobil™ Lithium, ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions is addressing these needs and extracting a critical mineral that contributes to energy security, supports manufacturing, and advances climate policy objectives with significantly fewer environmental impacts.

"We are bringing sustainable lithium production to North America, which is in great demand by our customers. We have the technology that can extract lithium with fewer carbon emissions, we can deliver a transparent supply chain, and we can scale projects that can reliably execute."

Patrick Howarth,
Lithium Global Business Manager
ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions

ExxonMobil’s unique value proposition for customers

Hear from some of our Low Carbon Solutions team on what ExxonMobil can deliver customers and why ExxonMobil is the company uniquely suited to provide new solutions in this critical supply chain.

Get in touch

Contact a member of the ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions team to discuss Mobil Lithium and to explore the best options for your needs.

Contact us

A snapshot of lithium and ExxonMobil’s role in delivering

1/4

Personal transportation = almost 1/4 of all CO2 emissions in US.1

4x

Global demand for lithium expected to quadruple by 2030.1

2/3 less

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process is expected to have about 2/3 less carbon intensity than hard rock mining.2

In the business of innovating energy solutions

ExxonMobil’s use of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) – a more sustainable method of production than hard rock lithium mining – to extract lithium from North American brine resources is a step change in how to supply a growing market, reducing the environmental impact of lithium production and enhancing supply chain transparency for our customers. Explore the highlights of this subsurface world:

Closed loop

Direct Lithium Extraction is a closed-loop system, which means the underground brine is extracted, processed then injected back below the surface.

Precise execution

Direct Lithium Extraction involves a drill well about 10,000 feet below the surface. Above ground, we’ll use a process called Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) to separate the lithium from the brine. We will extract the brine, use the technology to remove the lithium, upgrade it to battery grade material and then deliver to customers. The process requires expertise in geoscience, reservoir engineering, chemical processing and drilling and production - all areas ExxonMobil has decades of experience executing.

Supply chain

ExxonMobil’s investment will offer manufacturers supply chain transparency and shore up a North American supply of the critical material.

Smaller footprint

Direct Lithium Extraction uses one-third less water, significantly less land, and produces at least 60% less CO2 emissions compared with traditional methods.

"Customers -- auto makers, battery manufacturers, alike -- are very excited to see ExxonMobil enter this space. What customers are really looking for right now is supply chain transparency, a North American supply of lithium, that is developed safely, and they know ExxonMobil can deliver those things."

Layne Bashor,
Customer Development Advisor
ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions

Mobil Lithium includes the supply of lithium in North America and a lower carbon intensity process for extraction at a scale that could provide more certainty for supply chains. 

FOOTNOTES:

  1. ExxonMobil Global Outlook.
  2. Expected smaller footprint of lithium mining and expected lower carbon and water impacts: EM analysis of external sources and third party life-cycle analyses. a) Vulcan Energy, 2022 https://v-er.eu/app/uploads/2023/11/LCA.pdf, Minviro publication. Grant, A., Deak, D., & Pell, R.(2020). b) The CO2 Impact of the 2020s Battery Quality Lithium Hydroxide Supply Chain-Jade Cove Partners. https://www.jadecove.com/research/liohco2impact. Kelly, J. C., Wang, M., Dai, Q., & Winjobi, O. (2021). c) Energy, greenhouse gas, and water life cycle analysis of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide monohydrate from brine and ore resources and their use in lithium ion battery cathodes and lithium ion batteries. Resources, Conservation and Recycling,174, 105762.