Li-S Energy sets up launching pad for commercial lift-off with industry leading battery tech

Li-S Energy has confirmed its position at the forefront of the lucrative battery tech sector after reporting pivotal achievements in a busy December Quarter.

Pic: Li-S Energy

• Li-S Energy hit pivotal milestones in the December Quarter

• The company achieved an industry leading lithium-sulfur performance of almost 500Wh/kg from cells that rolled off its new Phase 3 production line

• Subsequent UAV test flights using LIS’s commercial sized cells highlighted the viability of unique technology

Special Report: Li-S Energy has confirmed its position at the forefront of the lucrative battery tech sector after reporting pivotal achievements in a busy December Quarter.

One of the startup’s key successes has been creating commercial sized cells that deliver its industry leading energy density. Li-S Energy's (ASX:LIS) unique cells then integrated into a battery pack and completed their first successful test flights in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The new GEN3 pouch cells that rolled off the company’s recently completed Phase 3 production line smashed its energy density record with an industry leading performance breakthrough.

Results from the latest testing bolster the company’s potential to be a game changer in high-growth industries where battery weight is critical, such as drones, electric aviation, defence and security.

CEO Dr Lee Finniear said: “We expected our Phase 3 production line would boost production quantity and cell performance, and it did not disappoint. In October we announced that our new GEN3 pouch cells built at the facility had achieved 495Wh/kg on first discharge and 456Wh/kg after formation cycling.

“Now, in the same weight package, we can substantially extend range, payload capacity and flight times compared to equivalent lithium-ion cells.

“Using 12 of the latest 456Wh/kg Phase 3 cells we built a trial battery pack in a 6S2P configuration, designed to power our first significant UAV test flights.”

Dr Finniear added that in most commercial applications, battery packs were used instead of single battery cells, so proving integrated capability in a battery pack is crucial.

Officially opened by Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic last August, Li-S Energy’s state of the art Phase 3 facility has a high level of strategic importance for the company. Built in Geelong, Victoria, the facility demonstrated during the December quarter that it is capable of scaling up production of top quality, commercial-sized cells for the company.

Test flight success

After passing all on-ground safety and performance tests Li-S Energy’s trial pack was integrated into a 2.4m wingspan, fixed-wing UAV for its first round of flight tests.

The result was a successful 30-minute flight on a single battery pack. Also importantly, the pack recharged smoothly on its return to the Li-S Energy facility.

The flight is a major achievement for the Li-S Energy team as it proves the viability of Li-S Energy’s technology in a commercial, fixed-wing UAV setting.

It also provided invaluable data for Li-S Energy’s involvement in the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships ‘dawn ‘til dusk’ drone program with VTOL Aerospace and Halocell. The EATP includes the development of a sophisticated battery management system for LiS Energy’s cells, which aims to further enhance their performance.

See video of test flight here:

Passing the FAT

Li-S Energy achieved another significant milestone during Q4 2024 with the passing of the factory acceptance testing for its lithium foil extruder, a key part of the company’s plans to produce lithium foil for its own battery anodes.

This milestone was reached ahead of schedule and followed the company’s $1.76 million Industry Growth Program grant from the Federal Government to build Australia’s first lithium foil production line.

The largest of its kind in Australia and installed inside the nation’s largest battery dry room, the lithium foil production line will enable the company to tap into the expanding global lithium foil market. It will also add value to Australian raw materials while building our sovereign capability in advanced manufacturing.

Li-S Energy’s technical accomplishments were recognised when it won the prestigious SIM-PAC award for “Most Promising Future Technology” in the sustainable industrial manufacturing sector across the Asia Pacific region.

Its savvy financial management is demonstrated by its $20.3 million in current assets, which positions it well to make the transition to commercial scale manufacturing.

This article was developed in collaboration with Li-S Energy, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Li-S Energy sets up launching pad for commercial lift-off with industry leading battery tech