Australian battery developer Li-S Energy has signed a collaboration agreement with defence and national security company EPE Trusted to Protect to evaluate and introduce its lithium sulfur battery technology across defence, security and unmanned-systems markets.
Under the non-exclusive agreement, the companies will jointly evaluate, demonstrate and qualify Li-S Energy’s ultra-lightweight battery cells for platforms including drones, ground robotics, explosive ordnance disposal robots, counter-drone systems and soldier electronics.
In an ASX announcement, Li-S Energy said the agreement provides a pathway to EPE’s defence and security customers and its network of more than 60 international defence and security original equipment manufacturers, alongside Australian prime contractors.
The company said its lithium sulfur batteries are designed and manufactured in Australia and can offer increased range, operating time and payload capacity for drones and other unmanned systems. Li-S Energy recently delivered battery cells to US Army DEVCOM for independent evaluation and testing, according to the release.
EPE, a wholly Australian-owned company with more than 25 years of experience in defence and national security, was recently awarded $3.05 million through the Queensland Sovereign Industry Development Fund to expand manufacturing of Australian-designed battery-powered drone systems.
Li-S Energy managing director Dr Lee Finniear said the collaboration could broaden the company’s access to allied defence and security markets.
“In one Agreement, we gain a pathway to EPE’s defence and security customers across Australia, the Indo-Pacific, North America, Europe and the UK, and to the 60+ international OEMs and Australian primes building the platforms where LIS cells can deliver real capability uplift,” Finniear said.
EPE founder and chief executive Warwick Penrose said battery technology was increasingly important for smaller and longer-endurance defence platforms.
“LIS provides a vital sovereign supply of advanced battery technology, designed and manufactured here in Australia,” Penrose said.
“Through this collaboration we will identify, evaluate and progress opportunities for LIS cells to deliver real capability uplift across the systems we build and support, and the partners we represent.”
Li-S Energy said any commercial battery supply arrangements resulting from the collaboration will depend on the outcomes of evaluation and qualification programs, as well as procurement decisions by EPE’s customers and partners.
The content of this article is based on information supplied by Li-S Energy Limited. For more information, please refer to the official company announcement and communications from Li-S Energy. Please consult a licensed and/or registered professional in this area before making any decisions based on the content of this article.
