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Just a few years in the past, a person purchased a Tesla and never lengthy later, the battery pack burst into flames. Tesla was initially going to present the person one other automobile, however rescinded the supply when Tesla discovered why it caught hearth: the man had one way or the other managed to negligently discharge a firearm inside. When the bullet acquired into the battery pack, one of many battery cells stopped it from passing right through, however it additionally brought about a brief circuit after which a fireplace.

So far as I do know, no one has managed to mishandle a gun and shoot an e-bike’s battery pack, however there have been loads of notable e-bike fires within the information, attributable to a wide range of points. Shoddy DIY and unbiased store work, improper storage, and manufacturing facility defects have brought about accidents and deaths.

However, a brand new firm says its engineers have the reply to all of this: 18650 cells that aren’t solely fireproof, however gained’t even catch hearth if shot. These particular cells have been designed by an organization known as Nanotech Vitality, and are actually accessible for buy by way of the corporate’s US associate, Voltaplex.

In response to Nanotech, the cell design mixed an electrolyte and proprietary electrodes with Soteria metallized polymer present collectors. The corporate additionally claims that the batteries are utterly unable to catch hearth, even when put by way of excessive punishment. And, the corporate has some receipts to show it!

Within the above video, the group shot a standard lithium-ion 18650 cell and the fireproof cell with a 4.5mm bullet (.177 caliber) shifting at 2,917 ft per second. The opposite normal battery, with the identical bullet weight shifting at roughly the identical pace immediately caught hearth and was now not capable of maintain any cost, whereas the Nanotech cell didn’t undergo both of these issues.

However, that’s not the one abuse the group put the Nanotech Vitality cell by way of.

Throughout a nail take a look at, conventional lithium-ion batteries quickly reached temperatures of 700°C, leading to instant destruction. Amazingly, Nanotech’s Graphene-Powered Batteries not solely remained intact, however in addition they exhibited no indicators of fireplace or explosion, solely a minor puncture within the battery cell might be seen.

On high of that, a warmth take a look at the place each batteries have been subjected to excessive temperatures, the standard lithium-ion battery underwent irreversible modifications and utterly burned down at solely 150C. However, the Nanotech battery cell maintained its efficiency for practically two hours when heated to that very same temperature. Even when the temperature was raised to 180°C, the battery confirmed indicators of cell venting, however with none hearth or explosion.

So, it’s no joke that the batteries can take a lickin’ and carry on tickin’ in lots of circumstances, and might’t catch hearth even once they do break.

“Each month in 2023, we’ve learn in regards to the devastating influence of giant fires attributable to low cost, harmful batteries which have price individuals their houses, their companies, and even their lives,” Curtis Collar, Chief Gross sales and Advertising and marketing Officer at Nanotech Vitality, mentioned. “At present, we are saying sufficient is sufficient.”

In response to the businesses, Voltaplex’s web site presents cells which are well-suited for a spread of functions together with e-bikes, robotics, medical gadgets, and even navy tools (the bullet-resistance would possibly actually get put to the take a look at there!). The cells are completely manufactured at Nanotech Vitality’s 50,000 sq. foot Chico 2 manufacturing plant in Chico, CA.

“It has been a privilege to work with the proficient group at Nanotech to assist develop this groundbreaking American-made battery cell.” mentioned Brian Morin, CEO at Voltaplex and Soteria. “Combining Nanotech’s non-flammable electrolyte with Soteria’s present collector that acts like a fuse contained in the battery offers a singular mixture of security in a cell that may take large injury with out igniting. With over 100 corporations having already preordered the cell, we stay up for working with the trade to implement this new stage of security. “