Solid Power, Inc. (NASDAQ:SLDP) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

John Van Scoter: No, they are interrelated. As we’ve shifted all of the electrolyte production to SP2 and shut down the SP1 production, it’s allowed us to reconfigure the physical area in SP1 and also have resources move around to support our next generation of powders there in SP1. And then we also are underway in construction for the next-generation powder laboratory here at SP2. That is scheduled to be completed next summer. And so we’ll go through another redistribution of square footage lab capability and personnel when that facility is available in SP2, again to focus on the next-generation electrolytes.

Vincent Anderson: Great. And then last one, specifically for you, John, you’ve had a few months a solid power now. I’m just wondering what impression a fresh pair of eyes has found with regard to how you see the balance of, call it, risk reward mainly on capital requirements of driving development and adoption of solid-state cells all the way down to the OEM level versus maybe focusing on optimizing your chemistry further broadening the commercial opportunities of the electrolyte on more OEM agnostic basis and letting the market come to you and tell you exactly when and where to commit more capital.

John Van Scoter: So we’re very customer-driven that we’re finding that our partners that we have right now are having different requirements and different approaches to ASSP development. And we’re really following our partners’ requirements and collaborating with them to meet those requirements. That is kind of the landscape that we see right now. I think it’s appropriate given the nascent nature of the market based on my experience with early-stage technologies. And as it matures, I think there’s an opportunity to do more, call it, independent and more reusable development across multiple customers. But right now, given a lot still has to be sorted in terms of performance, that is the nature that we’re following right now with each OEM.

Vincent Anderson: Okay. That’s very helpful. I appreciate it.

Operator: Thank you. And the next question comes from Jeffrey Campbell with Seaport Research Partners.

Jeffrey Campbell: Good afternoon. A sample sales typically are tested for cell performance and cycle life and allow a manufacturer to make design and production decisions. Since yourselves already meet BMW’s initial performance expectations, what are the primary endpoints that the A-1 cells will be tested for?

Kevin Paprzycki: Yes, we just ship the cells. We, of course, have characterization data on them going out, but we need a confirmation of BMW’s testing. We need them to be integrated into packs or into modules and then into packs. And so we’re still a ways away from being able to comment really further on the performance and I would emphasize, yes, that we’ve met BMW’s requirements for A-1, but those are primarily driven by the demo car. So there will be A-2 and A-3, we expect that we will be working with BMW on for subsequent improvements as we go through the entire a sample part of the process. For a sample qualification.

Jeffrey Campbell: Okay. Thank you. You mentioned in your prepared remarks the another OEM relationship, is a 2024 goal. Is it possible that, that partner might not be one of your current JV relationships?

John Van Scoter: Yes.

Jeffrey Campbell: Okay. Great. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Operator: Thank you. [Operator Instructions] And the next question comes from Brian Dobson with Chardan Capital.

Brian Dobson: Hi, thanks very much for taking my question. So wholesale in the electrolyte is likely a key area of opportunity. Would you speak to the competitive landscape in that segment? And also what you see as your advantages moving forward?

Kevin Paprzycki: I’m sorry, could you repeat the question you broke up. I didn’t get the first part of it.

Brian Dobson: Yes. Sorry about that. So wholesaling the electrolyte is a key area of potential opportunity in the future. Could you speak a little bit to the competitive landscape that you’re seeing in that segment and what your advantages might be?