Amionx™ announced commercial availability of its Safe Core™ technology. The Company plans to broadly license its patented and proprietary Safe Core technology for use in lithium-ion batteries globally. This transformative technology acts like a circuit breaker to prevent lithium-ion batteries from being the source of a fire or an explosion, which is typically due to three primary causes: overcharge, internal short, and external heat.
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.
The key attributes of Amionx Safe Core are: Activates by trigger of temperature, current or voltage thresholds; Virtually no increase to the bill of materials for lithium-ion batteries; No incremental capital cost; Longer lifetime of battery; Longer shelf life of battery; Maintains attractive qualities of lithium-ion batteries such as energy density; Opens or expands market opportunities for greater use of lithium-ion batteries that are currently limited by safety concerns including electric vehicles and power storage applications; Allows for design of smaller and lighter battery systems; and Applicable to other chemistries as well as solid state.
Amionx is a spinout from American Lithium Energy (ALE). ALE was originally founded in 2006 by Dr. Jiang Fan and Dr. Robert Spotnitz who are both widely recognized as foremost experts in battery technology. ALE has been designing, manufacturing and supplying batteries to the Department of Defense for more than ten years. ALE's batteries are designed for use in the most demanding 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."
