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EnergyX tour: A look into an Austin startup making lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles

Austin's EnergyX facility moved to Austin last year. (Andrea Guzmán)
Teague Egan wanted to be at the center of renewable energy. As CEO of EnergyX, a startup focused on extracting lithium to be used in electric vehicles, that center is in Austin, where he’s tripling his team and moving into a site five times the current lab’s size this summer.
Starting off in the Bay Area in 2018, the company moved to Austin in June 2021. Egan says it's building up its battery team, field operations and scientists working on lithium extraction. But the big project the company has under its belt is a pilot program to extract lithium reserves in Bolivia, where a quarter of the world’s known lithium is.
Austonia toured the company's 6,000 square foot site near the Heritage Hills neighborhood in North Austin. The office area had a laid-back, humble setting. A small dog named Molly barks out from one of the offices, another worker is blow-drying their hair in the middle of the workday and there’s a company book club, which is currently reading "Make Your Bed" by William H. McRaven.
Egan holds a container from the nanomaterials library. (Andrea Guzmán)
But the lab area carries a different atmosphere. Before walking in, goggles are needed. Racks, known as the nanomaterials library, house almost 1,000 materials that are used to do experiments.
Especially important to its mission of helping to reduce CO2 emissions, the company works with samples of lithium in its raw form to refine it for batteries. If a series of in-field pilot plants are successful, it can be ready for market by early 2023. “I think they are motivated by that or else they wouldn’t be working at the company. It’s kind of a prerequisite in the interview process," Egan said.
Egan, who's 33, says he wants to foster creativity with more hires and expand their patent portfolio.
With a hint of sentimentality, he turns to the organization chart, which features about 30 current employees. With a hint of sentimentality, he gestures to his screen. “This used to be just this little thing,” Egan said.
In his office, Egan talks to Austonia about his average week, which includes meetings focused on batteries, business development, lithium separation and more. (Andrea Guzmán)
Having the home base in Austin was important to Egan. Being right by Tesla’s headquarters was key, he says, despite some people leaving the startup to work there. And observing that the major tech titans are here, like Google, Apple and Meta, Egan knew the talent pool would be strong. Venture capital is also plentiful.
“Pair that with the culture of the food and the music and the vibes, it’s just a really good place, I think, to start a company,” said Egan, who is toying with the idea of having a company presence at South by Southwest.
Plus, the University of Texas at Austin is an important partner. UT is where they licensed their first four initial patents. They’ve now expanded to 43.
The team has worked with John Goodenough, who invented the lithium-ion battery. At nearly 100 years old, his capacity at the company isn’t much, but his last Ph.D. student is the vice president of battery technology at Energy X and the company also employs another student who worked with Goodenough for a decade.
Egan is aware that he lacks experience, but when his father told him to make two lists: one with his top five passions and another with the five industries he thought would grow the fastest in the coming decades, renewable energy came out on both.
After raising $20 million in financing in May last year, EnergyX made plans to move these tools from their current lab to a new, larger one. (Andrea Guzmán)
As EnergyX proceeds with its pilot in Bolivia, it will compete with seven others across the globe approved for the pilots whose results will determine access to commercial operations there.
“I feel like we have a pretty good head start over some of the competition,” Egan said. "I wasn’t really focused on what they were doing. I’m trying to run my own race.”- Elon Musk's Neuralink startup is hiring in Austin, Texas - austonia ›
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Popular
(Gulfstream)
Elon Musk has placed an order for a new, top-of-the-line private jet: a Gulfstream G700, Austonia has learned. Delivery is expected in early 2023.
Billed as offering “the most spacious cabin in history,” the aircraft seats 19 and soars above the rest of us at up to 51,000 feet. Base price: $78 million.
The Gulfstream G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award for excellence in cabin design this year. (Gulfstream)
According to the Gulfstream website, the G700 can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles without refueling, enough range to fly nonstop from Austin to Hong Kong. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, it has its own Wi-Fi system, 20 oval windows measuring 28” x 21”, and two lavatories.
The sweet new ride will replace his current top-of-line private jet: a 2015 Gulfstream G650, the aircraft that has been made somewhat famous by the automated @elonjet Twitter account, which tracks and reports his personal aircraft’s movements using public data.
Landed in Austin, Texas, US. Apx. flt. time 44 Mins. pic.twitter.com/jZ7HI0i4iV
— ElonJet (@ElonJet) June 24, 2022
Musk has repeatedly championed “free speech” as a guiding ethic in his planned purchase of Twitter. Last December, Musk offered the teenager who built the @elonjet tracker $50,000 to shut it down, citing security concerns. It’s still up.
According to the @elonjet account, Musk’s jet last traveled to Austin, where it’s been since June 23. The associated data says that his flight to Austin burned $2,573 worth of aviation fuel and discharged 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.