HPQ Silicon’s fourth-generation Endura+ 21700 lithium-ion cell has achieved UL 1642 certification as the Canadian company prepares the silicon-anode technology for customer qualification and commercial evaluation.
The HPQ Endura+ Gen4 cell has a rated capacity of 6,500mAh, an 8.3% increase on the 6,000mAh capacity of the company’s previously certified Gen3 21700 cell.
HPQ said the certification was awarded following testing by an accredited independent laboratory. UL 1642 covers the safety of lithium-ion cells under electrical, mechanical and environmental tests, rather than certifying their capacity or wider performance.
The company said meeting the standard would support customer qualification programmes, battery pack integration and evaluations by prospective industrial partners.
Bernard Tourillon, chairman, president and CEO of HPQ Silicon, said: “Independent certification is one of the most important steps in transforming an advanced battery technology into a commercially viable product. Successfully certifying our next-generation HPQ Endura+ platform demonstrates that we can continue increasing battery performance while meeting one of the industry’s most widely recognised safety standards for commercial lithium-ion cells. This milestone further strengthens our commercialization strategy by providing customers and industrial partners with greater confidence as they evaluate our technology for future applications.”
The cells incorporate silicon-based anode technology developed through HPQ’s collaboration with French research and development company Novacium, in which HPQ is a shareholder. The technology is intended to raise energy density while remaining compatible with conventional lithium-ion cell manufacturing processes.
HPQ said this compatibility could allow manufacturers to adopt the material without redesigning their existing production infrastructure.
Following certification, the Montreal-based company plans to continue customer evaluation and qualification work, pack integration and commercial discussions in markets including mobility, energy storage, telecommunications, defence, robotics and industrial equipment.
HPQ said further certification work was under way to support wider commercial deployment of the Endura+ platform.
