Graphene Manufacturing ships first fast-charge battery cells to customers

Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd (TSX-V:GMG, OTCQX:GMGMF) has initiated the distribution of its fast-charging G CELLS battery pouch cells to potential customers for preliminary testing and evaluation.

The initial shipment, part of a projected total of over 100 cells by the end of 2026, targets sectors such as defense and heavy mobile equipment. These approximately 1.5 Ah pouch cells are engineered for six-minute charging and are produced using materials developed by GMG at its Brisbane Battery Development Centre, with assembly carried out by the Battery Innovation Center in Indiana.

Customers will evaluate the cells' fast-charge capability, cycle life, and energy efficiency in their own testing environments, providing feedback to guide further development and optimization. These cells are pre-commercial samples and not intended for commercial use.

The technology is being developed under a joint development agreement with Rio Tinto. The battery technology readiness level is currently at BTRL 4, indicating validation in a laboratory setting.

Recent data from BIC Indiana revealed that the cells maintained performance after 1,000 cycles of six-minute charging and discharging at 7C. They achieved an energy density of 58 Wh/kg at 10C, a 48% increase from the previously reported 39 Wh/kg. Energy efficiency was recorded at 94% at high rates, compared to 64% for a tested lithium titanate oxide cell.

The company emphasized that these results were obtained in a laboratory and may vary in customer testing environments.

"Delivering G CELLS to potential customers is a key milestone in our battery development roadmap," stated CEO Craig Nicol. "Customer testing will inform our future development efforts on energy density, 10C cycle life, and larger cell formats."

GMG will gather test data and feedback over the coming months while continuing to enhance energy density, fast-charge cycle life, and the scale-up of cell sizes.