U.S. Military Awards South 8 Applied sciences $550,000 to Enhance Battery Security for Troopers
Cleantech San Diego member South 8 Applied sciences, builders of a novel liquefied fuel electrolyte (LiGas®) for the subsequent technology of protected and high-performance lithium-ion batteries, and NanoGraf, a sophisticated battery supplies firm and enabler of the world’s most energy-dense lithium-ion 18650 cell, have acquired a joint $550,000 award from the U.S. Military Fight Capabilities Growth Command (DEVCOM) to pair NanoGraf’s 3.8 Ah 18650 cell with South 8’s electrolyte for chilly temperature and security testing.
Troopers carry upwards of 25 kilos of batteries throughout missions, and generally must have backups as some batteries carry out poorly in harsh climate circumstances or after being bodily broken.
The DoD award will fund a six-month undertaking to verify batteries with NanoGraf and South 8’s expertise scale back or remove catastrophic failure when uncovered to excessive temperatures or nail penetration, in accordance with MIL-PRF-32383 4.7.4.4 (Navy Efficiency Specification). Profitable completion of the testing will validate the intense chilly temperature efficiency of the cell and preserve current capability and cycle life, permitting the cell to function all the way down to -60 levels, and as much as +60 celsius and move the security take a look at. NanoGraf’s M38 18650 cell can at the moment function all the way down to -30 celsius.
Presently Li-ion cells are stricken by poor low temperature capability and expertise thermal runaway at excessive temperatures or when crushed/punctured. Combining NanoGraf and South8 applied sciences has the potential to alleviate each circumstances, yielding a cell with few drawbacks by way of efficiency or security.
“We’re thrilled about this latest grant, because it gives much more efficiency differentiation for our Division of Protection buyer,” stated Dr. Francis Wang, CEO of NanoGraf. “Including the security and chilly temperature take a look at with South 8 additional extends NanoGraf’s efficiency profile from different industrial cells.”
This funding comes on the heels of some main milestones for each NanoGraf and South 8. In March of 2023, NanoGraf introduced an oversubscribed Sequence B funding spherical of $65 million. In November of 2022, the corporate was awarded a $10 million contract from the U.S. Authorities to develop the primary superior silicon anode manufacturing facility within the Midwest. In January of 2023, South 8 was awarded $3.15 million by the Division of Vitality to take part in its American Low-Carbon Residing (EVs4ALL) program.
“We’re excited for the chance to work with NanoGraf in direction of a industrial cell that mixes our two differentiating applied sciences into one highly effective product,” stated Cyrus Rustomji, CEO and co-founder of South 8 Applied sciences. “The Division of Protection and NanoGraf are unbelievable companions, and we’re thrilled to be working in direction of enhancing soldier capabilities throughout important missions in more and more harder climates.
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