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FCL’s Li-ion Battery Fire Suppression Invention Is Tested
Full Circle Lithium’s solution neutralizes the chemical reactions that cause lithium battery fires; 3rd-party testing so far confirms its efficacy.
2 Min Read
FCL's fire suppression solution not only neutralizes the reactions causing an EV battery fire but also prevents the release of harmful toxins into the environment. Image courtesy of Photospirit / Alamy Stock Photo
Lithium battery fires pose a challenge due to their intricate chemical reactions, resistant to traditional firefighting methods. Moreover, these fires release highly toxic substances, such as hydrofluoric acid, with lethal potential. Full Circle Lithium Corp. (FCL), a US-based lithium products manufacturer, has devised an innovative fire suppression solution (FSS). This solution not only neutralizes the reactions causing the battery fire but also prevents the release of harmful toxins into the environment. FCL asserts that the FSS contains safe proprietary active ingredients, reduces water usage significantly, and is environmentally friendly.
3rd-party testing underway
The FSS is currently undergoing rigorous testing at a reputable US-based facility to validate FCL's internal findings. The initial results from third-party testing are exceptionally positive, affirming FCL's claims:
In the first test, a collection of nineteen 1865 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries was ignited. The FSS, requiring only half a liter, extinguished the fire in under five seconds, with no re-ignition. In contrast, water temporarily subdued the battery fire, but it reignited after three applications due to heat generated from the reaction.
The second test involved igniting a larger e-bike lithium battery. Using only 0.75 liters of the FSS, the fire was extinguished in less than 5 seconds, without reignition. However, a larger volume of water initially extinguished the e-bike battery fire, but it reignited after three water applications, taking an hour to cool to ambient temperature.
The upcoming test will involve igniting 50 kWh EV Lithium-ion batteries, with FCL's FSS compared to water in the firefighting process.
Market implications
Upon conducting the initial market assessment analysis of specialty fire suppressants tailored for the lithium battery industry, it became evident to FCL that a substantial and escalating global challenge—and a business prospect—exist. Currently, there are no recognized fire-fighting solutions grounded in lithium chemistry that are both environmentally safe and feasible for deployment across a diverse array of lithium battery fire scenarios. FCL is confident that its FSS holds a pioneering position in what it perceives as a highly substantial global business opportunity.
“Battery fires are a serious and growing problem for the global EV and lithium battery industry that require a specially developed lithium chemistry-based fire-fighting solution, not currently available in the market. We believe our FSS may well be a cornerstone fire-fighting solution for this problem,” stated Carlos Vicens, FCL's CEO. “We look forward to completion of third-party testing of our specialty solution, and then formulating a commercialization plan for the benefit of the EV and lithium battery industry and our stakeholders.”
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