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IP aims to reduce battery fires

IP aims to reduce battery fires

Technology News |
By Nick Flaherty



The company is licensing its patented Safe Core technology that acts like a circuit breaker within a lithium-ion battery to prevent overcharging, internal shorts or problems from external heating.

Existing techniques, while improving safety, do not eliminate lithium-ion batteries from being the source of a fire or explosion. These existing techniques typically focus from the outside-in with the use of robust battery management systems, hardened shells and fire-retardant chemicals which add weight and expense. Amionx is focused on safety from the core of the battery outward and works even when other safety measures fail or are not activated.

Safe Core is triggered by temperature, current or voltage thresholds with barely any increase to the bill of materials for lithium-ion batteries and no incremental capital cost. This provides longer lifetime of battery and longer shelf life of battery without impacting on the energy density. This would allow greater use of lithium-ion batteries that are currently limited by safety concerns including electric vehicles and power storage applications. It can be applied to other chemistries as well as solid state batteries.

Amionx is a spinout from American Lithium Energy (ALE) which was founded in 2006 by battery industry experts Dr. Jiang Fan and Dr. Robert Spotnitz. ALE has been designing, manufacturing and supplying batteries to the US Department of Defense for more than ten years for military and commercial applications where energy, power and safety are critical.


“Our proprietary Safe Core technology is a transformative technology in an industry where, over the past 20 years, there have only been incremental advancements. After years of development, I am delighted to see our patented technology, Safe Core, come to market,” said Dr. Jiang Fan, Chief Technical Officer of Amionx. “Consumers need to be aware that issues related to lithium-ion battery safety are not specific to any one product that contains them. Cellular phones, tablets, laptops, wearables, hoverboards and electric vehicles are just a few examples of products in which these batteries are widely used.”

“I was immediately impressed by the elegant simplicity of the Safe Core technology from Amionx,” said Steve Altman, retired President of Qualcomm and current Amionx Board Chair and Investor. “I believe Amionx’s patented technology should be implemented in all lithium-ion batteries. While fire and explosions caused by lithium-ion batteries are relatively infrequent, the damage when they do occur can be costly and devastating including: major recalls, damage to brand reputation, personal injury and even fatalities. The market for Safe Core includes every product application that uses lithium-ion batteries and other chemistries as well. Safe Core can be implemented in newly manufactured batteries and be available in the market this year.”

www.amionx.com

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