Nanotech Energy has developed a fireproof e-bike battery that is also resistant to catching fire when shot at. Their 18650 cell design for batteries includes electrolytes, special electrodes, and Soteria metallized polymer current collectors. The company asserts that these batteries are highly resistant to catching fire, even under harsh conditions.
In the above video, the team shot a common lithium-ion 18650 cell and the fireproof cell with a 4.5mm bullet (.177 caliber) moving at 2,917 feet per second. The other standard battery, with the same bullet weight moving at roughly the same speed instantly caught fire and was no longer able to hold any charge, while the Nanotech cell didn’t suffer either of those problems.
But, that’s not the only abuse the team put the Nanotech Energy cell through.
In a nail test, regular lithium-ion batteries were quickly destroyed when they reached temperatures of 700°C. However, Nanotech’s Graphene-Powered Batteries not only survived but also showed no signs of fire or explosion, with only a small hole visible in the battery cell.
In addition, a heat test was conducted on both batteries, and the conventional lithium-ion battery experienced permanent damage and was completely destroyed at a temperature of just 150°C.
The Nanotech battery cell was able to maintain its performance for almost two hours even when exposed to high temperatures. Although there were signs of cell venting when the temperature was raised to 180°C, there were no incidents of fire or explosion.
So, it’s no joke that the batteries can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ in many cases, and can’t catch fire even when they do break.
The batteries are now available for purchase through the company’s US partner, Voltaplex. It’s website offers cells that are well-suited for a range of applications including e-bikes, robotics, medical devices, and even military equipment (the bullet-resistance might really get put to the test there!). The cells are exclusively manufactured at Nanotech Energy’s 50,000 square foot Chico 2 production plant in Chico, CA.