Kulr Successfully Tests 200Ah High Energy EV Battery for Thermal Runaway

Kulr, a key player in the battery technology industry, recently announced the successful completion of tests on a 200 Ah high energy Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) prismatic format lithium-ion cells for its esteemed global automotive OEM customer. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Kulr, showcasing its expertise in testing high energy battery cells for electric vehicles, grid energy storage, and industrial applications.

As the exclusive licensee of the large format fractional thermal runaway calorimeter (L-FTRC) technology from NASA, Kulr is at the forefront of innovation in battery testing. This cutting-edge technology enables Kulr to accurately characterize total energy yield, fractional energy yield, and mass ejection distributions for the largest lithium-ion cell formats available in the market. Moreover, Kulr can extract and submit gas samples for third-party gas speciation analysis, ensuring comprehensive testing and analysis.

William Walker, the Chief Technology Officer of Kulr, emphasized the challenges involved in thermal runaway testing, particularly with larger cells. He stated, "Thermal runaway testing in general is a challenge where numerous variables and their impacts must be considered. Ultimately, we are characterizing very violent events. If the objective is closed, or semi-closed, in format testing the larger the cell — the more difficult the test." Walker's insights shed light on the complexities of testing high energy battery cells and the importance of thorough analysis.

In a recent development, a leading global automaker selected Kulr for its next-generation EV battery safety and testing solutions. This partnership underscores Kulr's reputation as a trusted provider of cutting-edge battery technology solutions. With the automotive industry increasingly focusing on high-performance silicon-anode batteries and other advanced technologies, Kulr's expertise in battery testing and safety solutions is more crucial than ever.

Kulr's commitment to innovation is further demonstrated through the modification of the testing technology to be modular, allowing for flexibility in testing various cell sizes. By enabling testing of "mid" sized lithium-ion cells as well as very large cells, Kulr ensures that its testing solutions are adaptable to the evolving needs of the industry. Ongoing research and development efforts aim to enhance the testing technology by adding additional instrumentation for real-time mass flow measurement of gases and in-situ characterization of toxic gases like Hydrogen Fluoride (HF).