In this episode, Gianni Kovacevic, Kevin Piepgrass (COO of Lithium Bank), and John Passalacqua (CEO of First Phosphate) explore why LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries are rapidly becoming the dominant battery chemistry. They discuss direct lithium extraction (DLE), the growing importance of phosphate, the rise of sodium-ion batteries, and why they believe Lithium Bank and First Phosphate could be among the most overlooked opportunities in the battery materials sector.
🗓️ Recording date: July 17, 2026

📖 Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:35 – Meet the Guests: Gianni Kovacevic, Kevin Piepgrass & John Passalacqua
02:22 – Why These Two Battery Companies Were Brought Together
06:56 – Lithium Bank Overview (Kevin Piepgrass)
09:05 – First Phosphate Overview (John Passalacqua)
12:10 – Why LFP Batteries Are Taking Over the Market
14:25 – Why Lithium Bank Could Be Mispriced
15:58 – Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Explained
19:55 – Why High-Purity Phosphate Matters for LFP Batteries
23:44 – Is the Market Undervaluing Phosphate?
27:15 – Does Direct Lithium Extraction Change the Lithium Industry?
29:38 – Schlumberger Partnership & Feasibility Study Timeline
33:43 – First Phosphate Development Timeline & Milestones
35:52 – Will Sodium-Ion Batteries Replace Lithium?
39:38 – Can Lithium and Sodium-Ion Coexist?
40:23 – Investment Outlook for Lithium & LFP Batteries
42:38 – Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks