ASX-listed battery technology company Li-S Energy Limited says its third-generation semi-solid-state lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery cells have successfully passed a rigorous series of nail penetration tests with the results exceeding both the civilian and US military performance standards.
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The company has completed a comprehensive series of nail penetration tests using multi-layer 2.5Ah lithium sulfur cells built on the company’s Phase 2 micro-production line at Geelong in Victoria.
A total of 28 cells were tested, with the cells exceeding the nail penetration test requirements of the civilian UL2271 and UL2580 standards and the United States Military Performance Specifications MIL-PRF-32383/4X requested by the company’s aerospace partners.
Nail penetration tests involve penetrating the battery cell with a steel nail under precise conditions in a blast-proof test chamber. The purpose is to determine what happens to a battery cell if it is damaged, for example in an accident or if there is an internal short circuit.
Nail penetration is one of a suite of safety tests that are scheduled to be undertaken as $10 million Li-S’s Phase 3 production facility s commissioned, and these early results from the smaller Phase 2, 2.5Ah cells illustrate one of the key safety benefits of our Li-S cell technology.
Li-S Energy CEO Dr Lee Finniear said there was a range of benefits for the company’s partners.
“Amid growing public concern about the safety of lithium-ion batteries and battery fires, delivering a safe battery is vitally important,” he said.
“In our target markets of drones, electric aircraft and defence, a battery fire could be catastrophic, and these results show our partners that Li-S Energy battery cells are safe when penetrated and continue to work even after being damaged.”
Mark Xavier, CEO of V-TOL Aerospace, an Li-S Energy technology partner, said that these results will have a major impact on the civilian and military drone industry.
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“The ability to safely and reliably operate and transport drone technology is heavily reliant on battery stability. The Li-S Energy GEN3 cell nail penetration test results indicate a far better risk profile than current battery technology which I believe will save lives and improve operational performance. We are looking forward to trialling the GEN3 cells in the coming months as part of our collaboration program with Li-S Energy.”
