IKA Ilika Plc

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Ilika plc

("Ilika" or the "Company")

Goliath Prototypes Demonstrate Superior Safety

Independent assessment by University College London: Results exceed expectations

Goliath prototypes withstand test without exploding or overheating, unlike lithium-ion cells

Ilika (AIM: IKA), an independent global expert in solid state battery technology, announces that safety tests undertaken by independent expert assessors have demonstrated the superior safety of Goliath solid state cell battery prototypes relative to lithium-ion equivalent batteries.

University College London carried out the nail penetration test, a standard battery safety assessment , on Ilika's Goliath P1 prototype cells. This destructive test creates an internal electrical short-circuit inside a cell by piercing the cell with a metal nail. The test simulates a catastrophic incident that would typically cause energy-dense lithium-ion cells with lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide ("NMC") cathode chemistry (, to dangerously swell, rupture, explode, and catch fire in a process known as thermal runaway, often leading to temperatures above 600°C. Goliath P1 cells also use high-energy NMC cathode chemistry, however in the nail penetration tests the P1 cells neither exploded nor caught fire, with external temperatures remaining below 80°C.

With electric vehicles ("EVs")  expected to play a key role in the NetZero transition, solid state batteries are anticipated to provide a safer battery solution for next-generation EVs. It is expected  that a combination of improved safety performance and high energy density will reduce the complexity of battery packs. The reduction of parasitic packaging is, in turn, expected to lead to lighter and safer vehicles with longer driving range.

Testing was carried out as part of a short collaborative study, in association with the Faraday Institution SafeBatt project, which aims to develop an improved understanding of safety in next generation battery technologies. The study involves Ilika alongside researchers from the University of Oxford and University College London. The core Safebatt project explores the science of battery safety and works closely with UK battery developers and manufacturers like Ilika to inform industrial design and deployment.

A video of the test can be found here.

Graeme Purdy, Ilika CEO, stated: "Ilika has designed solid state cells intended to provide a safer alternative to high-energy lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to SafeBatt and this study, we have now observed test results which contribute to a growing body of evidence demonstrating Goliath's superior safety performance."

Dr James Robinson, Lecturer in Advanced Propulsion at University College London and Safebatt Project Leader, said: "These early results have exceeded our expectations in terms of cell safety. While there is still further testing to be undertaken, there seems to be an inherent safety advantage in nail penetration tests for this cell type over conventional state-of-the-art cells."

Professor Paul Shearing, Statutory Professor in Sustainable Energy Engineering at the University of Oxford and Safebatt Principal Investigator, commented: "Embedding advanced safety testing in the development cycle for next generation batteries is critical to accelerating their deployment, and we are delighted to work with Ilika in this study to translate our understanding of battery safety to their solid state technology."

About Ilika plc - https://www.ilika.com.

Ilika specialises in the developing and commercialisation of solid state batteries. The Company's mission is to rapidly develop leading-edge IP, manufacture and license solid state batteries for markets that cannot be addressed with conventional batteries due to their safety, charge rates, energy density and life limits. The Company achieves this by using ceramic-based lithium-ion technology that is inherently safe in manufacture and usage, higher thermal tolerance and easier to recycle which differentiates our products from existing batteries.

The Company has two product lines. Its Stereax batteries which are designed for powering miniature medical implants, industrial wireless sensors and specialist internet of Things (IoT) applications and the Goliath large format batteries designed for EV cars and cordless appliances.

About the University of Oxford

Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the eighth year running, and number 3 in the QS World Rankings 2024. At the heart of this success are the twin-pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer.

Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research alongside our personalised approach to teaching sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.

Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 300 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past five years. The university is a catalyst for prosperity in Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom, contributing £15.7 billion to the UK economy in 2018/19, and supports more than 28,000 full time jobs.

About the Faraday Institution

The Faraday Institution is the UK's independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research, skills development, market analysis, and early-stage commercialisation. Bringing together expertise from universities and industry, the Faraday Institution endeavours to make the UK the go-to place for the research and development of new electrical storage technologies for both the automotive and wider relevant sectors. Headquartered at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, the Faraday Institution is a registered charity with an independent board of trustees, and a delivery partner for the Faraday Battery Challenge.

For more information on the Faraday Institution, visit www.faraday.ac.uk and follow @FaradayInst on twitter (X).