FCL deems battery fire extinguishing tests successful

Lithium products manufacturer Full Circle Lithium Corp. (FCL), Toronto, says it has successfully tested its newly rebranded proprietary lithium-ion battery (LIB) fire extinguishing agent, FCL-X, with a global electric vehicle (EV) original equipment manufacturer (OEM) at its manufacturing plant in Nahunta, Georgia, as well as the Georgia Ports Authority.

The tests were monitored by the local Bryan and Glynn County fire departments in Georgia.

The testing opportunities are the result of the completion of three successful independent laboratory tests specifically targeting LIBs, FCL says, including those used in household electronics, electric scooters/e-bikes and EVs. The three separate tests focused on different scenarios and environments to ensure the reliability and versatility of FCL-X and compared it to other leading battery firefighting agents including water. FCL says these tests were conducted by an independent, accredited U.S.-certified laboratory and included controlled laboratory settings and real-world simulations.

FCL says the successful test outcomes validate the effectiveness of FCL-X in quickly, safely and effectively extinguishing LIB fires in an environmentally safe manner. The company cites the independent laboratory, which reported that FCL-X was “orders of magnitude” faster in extinguishing the LIB fires, used considerably less agent and limited the toxic smoke generated by such fires when compared to other agents.

The company says FCL-X is unique because its lithium engineering team developed it to specifically neutralize the complex chemical reactions that cause LIB fires. It says the EV OEM, Georgia Ports Authority and local fire departments have diligently been searching for an effective firefighting agent tailored to LIBs, and based on their assessment, the FCL-X extinguishment performance was “outstanding,” requiring minimal clean-up and instilling confidence in preventing reignition.

As a result of the success of the recent testing, FCL says it believes it is well positioned to immediately begin commercializing FCL-X.

“There is a lack of lithium-ion battery specific firefighting agents in the market today and given the serious personal and business risks posed by lithium-ion battery fires globally, many participants in the EV battery chain, including first responders and EV OEMs, are actively searching for and testing various potential extinguishing agents,” FCL CEO Carlos Vicens says. “We believe that given the enormity of the risk posed by lithium-ion battery fires globally, the battery firefighting agent market is substantial and in its infancy. The proprietary FCL-X agent is uniquely effective for fighting lithium-ion battery fires and so represents an exceptionally large potential opportunity for FCL.”

FCL says it now is poised to enter the global market with its fire extinguishing technology, adding that its focus on LIB fire safety aligns with the increasing demand for reliable fire suppression solutions in industries such as firefighting, automotive, residential, energy storage and consumer electronics. The company believes the U.S. presents a significant opportunity for it to introduce its FCL-X product, as it is one of the largest markets for EVs and related technologies.

“We believe we are situated in an ideal geographic location, as the state of Georgia is focused on the future of electrification with over $20 billion in EV OEM related projects currently being built,” Vicens says. “This is an ideal scenario for the commencement of the commercial rollout of the FCL-X.”