HPQ Silicium's Novacium to Develop High-Capacity Batteries for French Army
HPQ Silicium Inc.'s French subsidiary, Novacium, has entered into a collaboration with the French Army's Technical Section to develop new silicon-based batteries.
Montreal-based HPQ Silicium Inc. announced that its French subsidiary, Novacium SAS, is partnering with the French Army's Technical Section (STAT) to develop high-capacity silicon-based batteries.
The collaboration aims to create prototypes of ultra-high-capacity batteries for various military applications, including surveillance systems, electronic sights, anti-drone systems, telecommunications, and autonomous vehicles. The initiative seeks to meet the operational needs of the French armed forces.
The new batteries, utilizing 18650 cells, will incorporate Novacium’s advanced silicon-based anode material. The company states this material enables a capacity increase of over 30%, thereby extending battery range. This improvement is intended to reduce the burden on soldiers in the field by decreasing the number of batteries needed and the frequency of charging.
Novacium COO Jed Kraiem expressed pride in collaborating with STAT to "demonstrate the potential of our silicon-based materials in critical applications, such as tactical communications." The project will leverage Novacium's expertise in materials design and STAT's requirements. The first prototypes are in production and will be delivered to STAT by the end of Q1 2025 for extensive testing.
HPQ Silicium President and CEO Bernard Tourillon views the collaboration as a significant step towards commercializing silicon-based anode materials and a demonstration of the company's ability to meet the growing demand for higher-capacity lithium-ion batteries.