According to a recent release, Qualcomm (News - Alert) has made a strategic investment in Amionx, a safe battery technology development company. As part of its investment, Qualcomm President Derek Aberle reportedly will join the board of directors of Amionx.
“As the use of lithium-ion batteries continues to be more pervasive, we will undoubtedly see more incidents of battery fires and explosions; something which Safe Core can prevent,” said Jenna King, CEO, Amionx. “We are delighted by the commitment Qualcomm is demonstrating through its strategic investment in Amionx and we welcome Derek to the board. Given the success and experience Qualcomm has as a technology pioneer and licensor, we look forward to leveraging their expertise as we share this transformative safety technology with the industry through our licensing program.”
Amionx developed and patented a technology called Safe Core that is designed to act like a circuit-breaker in order to prevent lithium-ion batteries from being the source of a fire or explosion. Amionx Safe Core is focused on safety from the core of the battery outward and is applicable to other chemistries, as well as solid state. The implementation of Safe Core into existing battery manufacturing factories requires no additional capital cost and adds minimal cost to the bill of materials for the battery. Amionx is in the process of licensing its patented Safe Core technology for use in lithium-ion batteries globally.
“As an industry leading wireless systems invention company, Qualcomm has the foresight in recognizing and developing breakthrough technologies that will fundamentally transform people's lives,” said Derek Aberle, president, Qualcomm Incorporated. “We are excited about the potential for Amionx Safe Core to deliver significant value to suppliers and consumers of lithium-ion batteries across multiple industries. The fact that Safe Core can be implemented easily into the existing battery manufacturing process and at such low cost will help drive widespread and rapid adoption. Additionally, we believe Safe Core can open new product opportunities for lithium-ion batteries where safety concerns have limited their use to date.”